TORONTO, April 6, 2001 -- Pollution Probe Executive Director Ken Ogilvie will present a brief history of the environmental movement, focusing on the evolution of Pollution Probe as an environmental NGO spanning 30 years, during a lecture at York University, Monday, April 9, 12:30 - 2 p.m.

Ogilvie (York, MBA ‘81) will discuss how new ideas and institutional responses -- including from governments and industry -- evolve, and will offer a personal view of where the sustainability agenda stands today and in the future. His presentation will pivot around what he is calling the "New Infrastructure for Sustainability" that he uses to guide Pollution Probe’s mandate today.

Ogilvie said that the environmental movement began as a youth movement in the late 1960s and sought to draw attention to weak environmental laws, and the lack of concern by governments and industry for environmental issues such as the use of DDT, pesticides and the effects of acid rain. "The environmental movement has matured and developed over the last 30 years," he said. "The nature of environmental issues has also shifted. The challenge for today and for the future is to target progress in achieving environmental sustainability with the right set of tools and to maintain a high level of public support towards this goal."

David Bell, Director, York Centre for Applied Sustainability said, "Under Ken Ogilvie's leadership, Pollution Probe has emerged as one of Canada's most authoritative, informed and effective organizations promoting creative responses to sustainability policy challenges, especially with regard to air pollution and climate change. Ogilvie's views are sought out and respected by governments at all levels."

Ogilvie joined Probe in 1995 after serving two years as the Executive Coordinator of the Ontario Round Table on Environment and Economy. Before that he was Manager of Policy Coordination for the Ontario Ministry of Environment and Energy.He also served as the Acting Director of the federal Great Lakes program and as a lecturer on sustainable development institutions, tools and techniques in Malaysia and Romania. He developed the comprehensive air program at Pollution Probe which is currently being implemented and a children's health and the environment program.

Ogilvie's lecture is organized by the Faculty of Environmental Studies and the York Centre for Applied Sustainability on behalf of the President’s Task Force on Sustainability. The Sustainability Speaker Series intends to provide public forums for discussion of sustainability issues in general, and in particular their relation to York University and the work of the Task Force in recommending measures that will achieve sustainability on campus.

Ogilvie's lecture will take place in the Senate Chamber, (N940 Ross Building), York University Campus, 4700 Keele Street.

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For further information, please contact:

Dianne Zecchino
External Relations, Faculty of Environmental Studies
York University
(416) 736-5285
diannez@yorku.ca

Ken Turriff
Media Relations
York University
(416) 736-2100, ext. 22086
kturriff@yorku.ca
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