There is a growing recognition of the need to integrate environmental concerns much more fully into the heart and fabric of society. But the implications of this for our lifestyle, for the way we run our industries and for overall consumption levels have yet to be clearly worked out.

Equilibrium seeks to influence and help to manage this change in two ways: by providing analyses of key problems and by helping to develop realistic and sustainable solutions. We are undertaking a series of assessments of the industrial world''s footprint on ecology and society, including to date substantial books or reports on the pesticide, fertilizer and timber trades, effects of air pollution and climate change on biodiversity, the UK forest footprint and impacts of transnational companies on forests. A more general assessment of corporate environmental impact is under preparation, along with a closer look at the relationship between consumption levels and environmental problems. At the same time we aim to help provide solutions: we have for example worked with some of the largest companies in the world to provide advice on improving their environmental performance through, for example, environmental impact assessments.

Managing a transition to a sustainable society will necessitate breaking out of conventional disciplines and groups and encouraging innovation, new partnerships and perhaps the willingness to take some risks. We''ve worked with everyone from the very large (governments and United Nations agencies) to village communities and believe that this kind of integration is essential to long-term success. Equilibrium has carried out several studies into new approaches to conservation including two reports with WWF to UN agencies on the implementation of the Earth Summit''s Agenda 21 and the role of different groups in marine conservation.

The relationship between agriculture and environment has provided a constant theme to our work for some years and has led to research projects into threats from intensive farming, practical advice on ways to minimise these and an ongoing link to several organic sector bodies including the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) and Elm Farm Research Centre in the UK. This involved editing IFOAM''s English language journal for several years and co-producing a book on organic cotton. Current work includes a series of projects looking at the links between organic farming, protected areas and biodiversity conservation.

Further work, particularly on the issues relating to consumption, is planned for the coming years.