The Institute was launched at the Scottish Parliament on 22nd November 2006.
Miriam Kennet one of the Institute's Directors addressed a cross party gathering and talk about the merits of the green economics approach. For further details and to enquire about invitations please email the institute
Speakers so far at this event Host Mark Ballard Scottish MSP with Miriam Kennet Director Green Economics Institute MSc Oxon.
Allyson Pollock (Professor of International Public Health Policy at Edinburgh University)
Antonia Swinson (Chief Executive of the Scottish Social Enterprise Coalition)
Stuart Callison (Deputy Chief Executive of the Gorbals Initiative)
Osbert Lancaster (Executive Director of the Centre for Human Ecology, a very well respected Scottish academic institute)
Dr Joseph Somevi,MSC Oxon. Aberdeenshire specialist in Environmental Impact and Assessment.
Our Scottish Branch is being run by Mark Ballard and Ben Murray and is already attracting regular new members.If you are in Scotland and would like to attend or hear more please email the Institute at greeneconomicsinstitute@yahoo.com.
Details of our Branch Manager in Scotland
Mark Ballard is a Scottish Member of the Scottish Parliament for Lothians Region. Since his election in May 2003, Mark has been the speaker on Finance and Public Services for the Scottish Green Parliamentary Group, a post which also covers local authority issues. Mark is also the Convenor of the Green Group of MSPs and represents the Parliamentary Group on the Scottish Green National Council. In April 2004 he introduced a Private Member's Bill to the Scottish Parliament to replace the Council Tax and UBR in Scotland with a system of Land Value Taxation.
In the Scottish Parliament, Mark sits on the Finance Committee, which is responsible for monitoring public expenditure in Scotland and scrutinising the Executive's annual budget and the financial implications of bills. He is also a substitute member of the Enterprise and Culture Committee. He is the Green co-convenor of the Cross Party Group on the Scottish Economy, Deputy Convener of the Cross-Party Group on Animal Welfare and is a member of the Cross-Party Groups on Lupus, Borders Rail, Cycling, Tobacco Control and Waste Management.
Mark studied Economic History at Edinburgh University, where he co-founded the Scottish Green Student Network. He has since worked for European Youth Forest Action in Amsterdam and as Editor of the Reforesting Scotland Journal. Before becoming a Member of the Scottish Parliament, he ran an environmental communications consultancy business. Miriam Kennet July 2006
Mark Ballard was elected second on the Lothians list in 2003, having played a key role in organising the 2003 election campaign, for over 10 years. Since his election he has been very active in campaigning for better public transport in Edinburgh and the Lothians. His activities have included liaising on the proposed tram lines, and supporting the transport improvement scheme proposed by the Council. Mark has also been involved in Community campaigns against the Portobello superstore, the proposed move of Craigroyston High School to the Riding Stables site, and the Inverleith Skatepark. Mark's interests include cycling and cooking, and he is Business Manager for the Green Group of MSPs.
Miriam Kennet September 2007
