D&I Presents: House of Commons Debate - Sustainability & Growth (with drinks!)

'Order! Order!' Who doesn't remember those movies from the House of Commons in the UK?

From the Sustainability & Innovation committee, we present: House of Commons Rabobank-style! With in-house themes, moderator and drinks in the Old Dutch afterwards. 

In similar fashion, we'll have a theme which guide the theses we'll discuss: Can sustainability be paired with (economic) growth? Based on this theme, we have devised the following theses to be debated:

Theses:

1. Rabobank must take more responsibility for promoting sustainability, even if this is at the expense of profits.
2. Profit is more important than sustainability for the future of our planet.
3. It is Rabobank's responsibility to ensure that businesses and consumers take sustainability seriously.
4. Sustainability is not only a matter of ethics, but can lead to cost savings and profitability for the bank and our customers.
5. Consumers themselves are responsible for adjusting consumption patterns and not the bank

For clarity, also in Dutch -> Stellingen:

1. Rabobank moet meer verantwoordelijkheid nemen voor het bevorderen van duurzaamheid, zelfs als dit ten koste gaat van de winst.
2. Winst is belangrijker dan duurzaamheid voor de toekomst van onze planeet.
3. Het is de verantwoordelijkheid van de Rabobank om ervoor te zorgen dat bedrijven en consumenten duurzaamheid serieus nemen.
4. Duurzaamheid is niet alleen een kwestie van ethiek, maar kan leiden tot kostenbesparingen en winstgevendheid voor de bank en onze klanten.
5. Consumenten zijn zelf verantwoordelijk voor aanpassing van consumptiepatronen en niet de bank.

It is not necessary to extensively prepare and research these theses. All that is needed is an opinion and a sharp (and open) mind! 

This debate will encompass three of the theses, in three sessions of 20 minutes. Which theses will be discussed depends on the participants and the moderator. We will summarize the results and share them later. After the debates, we invite you to have drink and further discuss at the Old Dutch! 

First drink in the Old Dutch is on us. We hope to see you there!

Sustainability & Innovation Committee.

PS: From the onset the debate will be in English, unless everyone speaks Dutch and this would aid the debate.