TED on Sunday: John Doerr on the 'Green' Imperative

With the 15th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 15) set to begin tomorrow, this seems like a good time to take another look at what may be at stake. In this emotional talk, legendary Silicon Valley venture capitalist John Doerr argues that there "is a time when panic is the appropriate response" -- and with catastrophic, irreversible climate change only decades away, that day is fast approaching. Fortunately, says, Doerr, he has learned four things about the climate change issue that give him hope: business can be part of the solution; individuals matter; smart policy matters; and the potential for radical innovation in the clean-energy field is almost limitless. As Doerr likes to say: "The best way to predict the future is to invent it." Let's get started. (Filmed: March 2007; Running time: 17:49)

Liked this talk? Try one of these.

• Geoff Mulgan on Social Innovation and the New Capitalism
• Elizabeth Gilbert on Creativity
• Hans Rosling on the Global HIV Pandemic
• Bill Gates on the Importance of Being Optimistic
• Clay Shirky on the Transformed Media Landscape
• Katherine Fulton on the Future of Philanthropy
• Seth Godin on Leadership
• Barry Schwartz on the Paradox of Choice
• Alex Tabarrok on the Benefits of Globalization
• Majora Carter on Environmental Justice
• Al Gore on Climate Change
• Sylvia Earle on Saving the 'Blue Heart' of the Planet
• James Howard Kunstler on the Death of Suburbia
• Clay Shirky on Epochal Change
• Mark Bittman on How We Eat
• Hans Rosling on the Dimensions of Development
• Sir Ken Robinson on Education and Creativity

And for those who can't get enough of TED, check out Jim Simpson's post about a cool hidden feature of most TED Talks.

-- Mitch Nauffts