World business expert says now need to work on a dramatic cure to stop catastrophe

Anglia Ruskin University has staged a lecture by world-class businessman who, as a teenager, declared an ambition to change the world.

Throughout his highly successful career, he has done just that and now - as a senior player within the communications sector - he has made it his mission to warn people that it is too late to prevent global warming, now what is needed is a cure.

Peter Dawe OBE, is an entrepreneur, technological innovator and Chief Executive of InterVivo Communications. His lecture, Saving the World, followed the theme of his second book The New Noah which argues that civilisation faces catastrophe from population, depleted mineral resources and a degraded bio-sphere and suggests that 'preparing for the worse' is a better strategy than hoping to prevent a meltdown. He discussed the political system and its ability to respond, the means to solving problems, including schools for change.

After gaining a Diploma in Management Studies at Cambridge College of Arts and Technology, Peter Dawe went on to become one of the pioneers of the Internet in the UK. In 1986 he founded Unipalm, and in 1988, created Pipex, the UK's first commercial Internet provider. He was instrumental in defining the architecture of the inter-ISP business model that governs the Internet today, including the 'model self-regulatory body', Internet Watch Foundation. His work was recognised in 2000 by Anglia Ruskin University when he was made an Honorary Doctor of the University; and most notably, in 2001 he was awarded an OBE.

Anglia Ruskin University features prominently in the UK universities' green league. It has just been awarded the Carbon Trust Standard after taking action on climate change by measuring and reducing its carbon footprint by 6% in absolute terms (based on emissions from energy, water and waste).

The Carbon Trust Standard is the world's first carbon award that requires an organisation to measure, manage and reduce its carbon footprint and actually make real reductions year-on-year. Unlike other award schemes, organisations are rewarded for actions they've taken to cut carbon across their own operations.

Anglia Ruskin has taken some significant steps to improve the energy efficiency of its sites in both Chelmsford and Cambridge. Through an ambitious re-development programme the University is replacing its older less efficient building stock with more efficient buildings.