Chantal Cooke

"London can set the standard for sustainability and to do so we need to engage people so they care about making sustainability a reality."

Why is sustainable development important to you?
"Sustainable development is important to me as I want to see us all develop - as people, as a city, as country, and as a planet. But this has to be positive development and a key to that is making it sustainable.

To me sustainable development means adding rather than taking away from the environment (this includes people and nature). Whether it's a lifestyle, a building or a business, sustainability is key, with an additional goal being not preventing others from achieving sustainability themselves (selfish sustainability isn't real sustainability).

Sustainable is much more than just "green". It's about our health - physical, mental and spiritual. That's why health and environment are the ying & yang of Passion for the Planet's programming - you can't have one without the other. 

Additionally, sustainable should also mean "fit for purpose". For example a house has to deliver all we need and expect from our homes, not just tick eco boxes. This is the same for "quality of life". I want a life that's rich and fulfilling. And I want luxury too. But luxury at the expense of other people or nature isn't rich and fulfilling.

So sustainable development plus quality of life is the route to "responsible luxury", a road we all need to travel. Defining luxury is individual, being responsible must be universal. And that means understanding that everything is interlinked and being accountable for the impacts of that inter-linking."

What does being a London Leader mean to you?
"Being a London Leader is an amazing opportunity to make a real difference in London. It's an inspirational programme and full of truly inspiring people."

Past experience
In 2002 Chantal co-founded Passion for the Planet - the UK's only radio station and TV channel dedicated to providing ideas and solutions to help us all live a greener, healthier more ethical life.

Chantal has over 20 years experience as a journalist working for the BBC and commercial sector in the UK and Europe.

Chantal has been passionate about the environment since her childhood, starting her first nature magazine, called Animal Press, at the age of 10.