For the first time since the Presidential Distinguished Lecture Series was established by SMU President Howard Hunter in February 2005, the speaker was himself a president – His Excellency Dr László Sólyom, President of the Republic of Hungary. Held on 23 May 2008, the lecture “Governing for Sustainability: A Hungarian Perspective on Climate Change, Environment and Responsibility for Future Generations”, brought to SMU a diverse and engaged audience of over 200 academics and environmental professionals. Special guest Dr Amy Khor, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Water Resources (MEWR) joined President Sólyom to answer questions from the audience.

In Singapore on a state visit, President Sólyom spoke about his government’s efforts to ensure environmental sustainability for future generations in the face of national and economic development. He went on to explain that following an overhaul of Hungary’s political, legal and institutional system in the 1980s, the debates on pressing local and international environmental issues left their mark on the spirit and letter of the new Constitution. As a