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Colin Beavan        

Eco-Leader, Executive Director of The No Impact Project Author & Spokesperson

Colin Beavan’s writing, speaking, consulting and activism have encouraged tens of thousands of people to examine their lives to discover what’s really important to them. The resulting “transformative adjustments” that people make allow them to live more in line with their true values and aspirations, both for their own lives and the world. It is Colin’s mission to wake people up, on both individual and collective levels, to ways of life and doing business that are healthier and happier for individuals, for our society, and for our world.

Colin Beavan is among the world’s best known spokespeople on environmental issues, consumerism and human quality of life. He was called “one of the ten most influential men” by MSN, an “eco-illuminator” by Elle Magazine, a “best green ambassador” by Treehugger.com, and his blog was selected as one of the top 15 environmental blogs by Time Magazine. He has spoken at and consulted to the hippest of brands–from eBay to CliffBar, from Northface to Ideo–and has been invited to speak everywhere from California to the Czech Republic. Colin’s work has been the subject of stories in the New York Times, The Guardian, Le Monde and literally hundreds of other national and international news outlets. Colin has appeared on The Colbert Report, Good Morning America, Nightline and countless other TV and radio shows.

Colin’s next book, How to Be Alive: A Guide to the Kind of Happiness that Helps the World, will by published by Dey Street Books (a division of HarperCollins) in January, 2016. No Impact Man, Colin’s last book, is required reading on over 100 American college campuses at last count. It has been translated into 15 languages. His documentary film, also called No Impact Man, was featured at Sundance and has been shown in theaters and on TV around the world. Some 50,000 people have been through No Impact Week, an immersive educational experience run by his non-profit.

Colin is the executive director of the No Impact Project, the author of the book and the subject of the documentary No Impact Man, a 350.org “Messenger,” a dharma teacher in the Kwan Um School of Zen, and a board member of Transportation Alternatives. He was the Green Party’s candidate for a seat in the United States House of Representatives in the 2012 electoral race for New York’s 8th Congressional district. He holds a PhD from the University of Liverpool and is the author of two books previous to No Impact Man.

Since he rose to prominence, Colin Beavan’s writing, speaking, and activism have encouraged hundreds of thousands of people, businesses, colleges and governments to discover ways of operating that are better for themselves, for their communities and for the world. It is Colin’s mission to wake people up, on an individual and collective level, to ways of life and doing business that are healthier and happier for individuals, for our society, and for our world.

Speech Topics

To Hell With Sustainability (and Screw Progress, too)!!!

World famous environmental thinker and author Colin Beavan aka No Impact Man argues for a new better, aspirational definition of progress. Should, for example, we be looking for ways to make junk food containers compostable? Or should we instead be putting our energy into getting the already-compostable apple into inner-city kids' hands? We should not just be aiming to "sustain" our current way of life. Our crises provide us with the chance to find a way of life that is both better for the planet and better for us. An especially interesting talk for business and designers looking to make the world not less bad but more good.

How Environmental Crises Point The Way to Human Happiness—An Aspirational Approach That Attracts People to The Movement

For too long, the need for change in our individual lives and economic system has been talked about with doom and gloom—as though we have to deprive ourselves. In fact, the path forward can bring more happiness and safety to us, to our local and world communities and to our habitat. World famous environmental thinker and speaker Colin Beavan aka No Impact Man talks about the ambitious path ahead that can both improve our world and attract more people to the movement.

Why Don’t They Give a Sh*t?—Communicating for Social Change

We are so steeped in our social change work that sometimes we can’t understand why people don’t care about what we care about. We forget that others may have perfectly valuable concerns of their own. How do we show that the change we want will address our audience’s concerns? World famous environmental thinker and speaker Colin Beavan aka No Impact Man talks about learning to make your agenda appeal to the needs, values and aspirations of your audience.

Are We Screwed?—A Practical and Spiritual Approach for People Worried About Our World Crises

We all know about accelerating climate change and other dire global news. As though this is not enough, some writers and thinkers say we are screwed—it’s game over. Is that true? What are we supposed to do with that kind of information? Should we have hope? Should we be in despair? What, in fact, should each of us do? World famous environmental thinker and speaker Colin Beavan aka No Impact Man talks about embracing uncertainty and mystery to help us find our own personal paths to helping ourselves and others.

Saving the World to Save Yourself—Easy Steps Towards a Fun, Meaningful, Helpful Life

In 2007, World famous environmental thinker and speaker Colin Beavan aka No Impact Man begin making small adjustments in his life and career in order to address himself to his concerns about the world. What he discovered was not a life of sacrifice but a path forward that including more security and more meaning. This is a talk about how you can find such a path, too!

News

An Environmental Crusader’s Newest Goal: Congress
In the name of living his New York City life with as little environmental impact as possible, Colin Beavan embarked on a punishing project five years ago. He and his family stopped taking the elevator to their ninth-floor Manhattan apartment; they did their laundry by stomping on it in the tub; for about six months, they even went without electricity at home. Mr. Beavan called the project No Impact Man, scored a book deal and became the subject of a documentary.

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