RSPO hosted its first live online debate on 21 May 2013 to discuss the different aspects and challenges linked to palm oil sustainability and to explore possible solutions.
Darrel Webber, Secretary General of RSPO, together with Robert Hii, Palm Oil Consumers Action (Toronto), and Lorinda Jane and Michelle Nicol, both of Palm Oil Investigations Australia, engaged in a lively and stimulating discussion on the sustainability challenges of palm oil production and consumption. The debate was moderated by Fred Pearce, a British writer and journalist, who contributes to well-known publications including the New Scientist, The Guardian and other British newspapers.
Participants discussed a range of core topics, including the meaning of sustainability, the role of the various RSPO supply chain certification systems in transforming the market, and possible ways of boosting CSPO uptake. Towards the end of the debate, panellists also addressed a number of questions asked in advance of the debate by interested members of the public.
The debate is up online and can be accessed on YouTube or at the following link:
http://www.rspodebate.com/. RSPO plans to organise a series of such online debates, involving a variety of different panellists and moderators, in order to foster awareness of the issues surrounding palm oil sustainability and provide a platform for interested parties to express their views on palm oil sustainability. Further details will be available on the RSPO website (
http://www.rspo.org/) in due course!
