I spend a lot of time outdoors (writes Will Hayler, founder of Blue Earth Summit), and I know I’m not alone in saying that being in nature makes you want to protect it. But loving something and actually taking action to safeguard it are two very different things. That’s what led to the creation of Blue Earth Summit—a space where people from all walks of life come together to find solutions for regenerating the natural world. Inspire, Connect, Act.
Now, five years into running the event, I’ve learned a lot about what works, what doesn’t, and how to move beyond just “preaching to the converted.” Here’s why we started Blue Earth, what we’ve learned, and one action you can take to move beyond loving nature to actually protecting it.
The Three Big Issues That Motivated Me to Take Action
1. Time Spent Outdoors Naturally Leads to Wanting to Protect It
Spending time in nature creates a deep connection to it. This was really obvious to us from the start. My background is in surfing, and at the time, we were running a surf media title that focused on the ocean—its beauty, its fragility, and what we could do to protect it. We started weaving environmental content into our media, but we always questioned how relevant it was. Who was listening? Were we just talking to people who already cared?
This realisation—this need to move beyond just raising awareness—was the first spark for Blue Earth.
2. Business Can Be a Force for Good
I’ve always believed that business doesn’t have to be just about profit. It can do a lot of social and environmental good, too. But historically, business has been on the wrong side of environmental issues, extracting value from nature without giving anything back. The question for us was: How can we change that?
We wanted to challenge the idea that success and sustainability are at odds. Businesses that align their goals with environmental progress don’t just help the planet—they create more resilient, future-proof organisations. That’s a big part of what Blue Earth is about: helping businesses see that doing the right thing can also be the smart thing.
3. The Climate Space Needed a Better Event
Traditional climate events are great at raising awareness, but they’re not always the best at bringing people together to create solutions. They tend to feel either like doom-laden warnings or technical policy discussions. We saw a gap: where was the energy, the innovation, the optimism that we saw in industries like tech and design?
If you go to a tech summit, it’s all about possibility—big ideas, bold ambitions, solutions that seem impossible until they happen. Why wasn’t there a climate event with that same level of excitement? That’s what we wanted Blue Earth to be: not just another environmental conference, but a space where people from different sectors—business, public, and third—come together to collaborate and take action.
Two Big Lessons From Five Years of Blue Earth Summit
1. Don’t Preach—Connect People Through Shared Passions
One of the biggest challenges in environmental work is avoiding the echo chamber. In the first year of Blue Earth, we welcomed anyone and everyone, which was great. But as we grew, we started thinking more about how to reach people outside the usual climate circles.
The answer? Talk to people’s passions. Instead of just framing everything as “a climate issue,” we connect through shared interests—adventure, business, problem-solving, resilience. You don’t have to be a climate activist to care about the outdoors. You don’t have to be a sustainability expert to see the opportunity in making business more regenerative. When you start from common ground, the conversation opens up.
2. Work With the System to Change It
Early on, I wanted to shake things up—tear down the old way of doing things and build something better. But over time, I’ve realised that real change happens when you work with the system rather than against it.
People aren’t going to stop flying overnight. They won’t suddenly change the way they eat unless a better, more appealing alternative exists. If we want large-scale change, we need solutions that work for both people and the planet.
Take Ovo Energy, for example. Their number one priority is affordable energy. Number two is great customer service. Then—almost as an afterthought—they highlight that their energy comes from renewable sources. They’ve baked sustainability into their business model, rather than making it the whole pitch. And guess what? It works.
That’s the key: if you want people to adopt more sustainable habits, make it the easiest, most appealing choice.
One Action You Can Take Right Now
Don’t Just Love Nature—Find a Way to Integrate It Into Your Work
If you love the outdoors and care about the environment, ask yourself: how can I build that into what I already do? Maybe that means influencing your workplace to make more sustainable choices. Maybe it’s using your skills to support environmental initiatives. Maybe it’s just shifting where you spend your money and attention.
Real change doesn’t always come from big, dramatic actions. Often, it’s small, consistent efforts—scaled up over time—that make the difference.
At Blue Earth, we’re trying to create a space where environmental action is practical, integrated, and effective. The more people we bring into the conversation—not just the “usual suspects,” but those outside the climate world—the bigger the impact we can have.
So, what’s one way you can start today?
And finally, let me recommend two excellent books:
