Our founding story
In 2006, a group of experienced environmental and business leaders came together with a shared conviction: the environment must sit at the heart of economic competitiveness. Building on previous discussion and consensus, the group met at Aldersgate Street to create a new movement, and the Aldersgate Group was born.
The founding discussion was convened by Adrian Wilkes (then at Environmental Industries Commission), joined by Sir John Harman (Environment Agency), Tim Jenkins (Friends of the Earth), Ian Dickie (RSPB), and Peter Young (Enviros).
Founding principles
The group agreed on its key principles:
- Economic success depends on a healthy environment and the wise use of natural resources.
- Industry figures on the costs of environmental protection are consistently exaggerated and the benefits of high environmental standards downplayed.
- At a company level, good environmental performance and efficiency in the use of resources are good business.
- Better regulation should not mean deregulation.
- Timely adoption of higher environmental standards gives early-mover advantage for environmental industry – a huge growth sector.
Early milestones
May 2006: The Group published its first report, Green Foundations, promoting novel messages and showing support from a unique coalition of businesses, environmental groups and thinktanks – Aldersgate Group’s first members. Many of these original members are still involved with the Group today.
April 2007: Aldersgate Group was formally incorporated as a non‑profit, enshrining its unique approach to facilitating collegiate decision-making with balanced representation across the economy. Andrew Raingold was appointed as the first Executive Director.
December 2007: Leadership evolved as Peter Young became Chair in December 2007. Founding Chair, Adrian Wilkes, remained with the Group as Deputy, ensuring continuity and momentum.
Impact and growth
2008: The global financial crisis risked derailing environmental progress, but the Group held strong. It made an immediate impact on policy, such as when the Stern Review’s findings were enshrined in law in the form of the Climate Change Act that year.
2009: An updated Green Foundations 2009 was launched in the House of Commons Dining Room, with Ed Miliband as the keynote speaker and over 200 attendees. In June, there was wide endorsement for Aldersgate Group’s call for high environmental standards, setting the stage for future work on green finance and markets.
