Jeremy Rifkin

An expert on the impact of scientific and technological changes on the economy, the workforce, society, and the environment, Jeremy Rifkin has advised top European leaders throughout this past decade, including President Nicolas Sarkozy of France, Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, Prime Minister José Sócrates of Portugal, Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero of Spain, and Prime Minister Janez Janša of Slovenia.

He is also the founder and president of The Foundation on Economic Trends, which examines the economic, environmental, social, and cultural impacts of new technologies introduced into the global economy, and is the best-selling author of 19 books that have been translated into more than 35 languages and are used in hundreds of universities, corporations, and government agencies around the world. His most recent books include The Third Industrial Revolution, The Empathic Civilization, The Hydrogen Economy, The European Dream, The End of Work, The Age of Access, and The Biotech Century.

In addition to advising the aforementioned political leaders during their respective European Council Presidencies, Rifkin has been an advisor to the European Union and the government of Spain during its presidency of the European Union (January 1 - June 30, 2010). He currently advises the European Commission, the European Parliament, and several EU heads of state.

Rifkin is the principle architect of the European Union's Third Industrial Revolution long-term economic sustainability plan, which addresses the triple challenge of the global economic crisis, energy security, and climate change. The Third Industrial Revolution was formally endorsed by the European Parliament in 2007 and is now being implemented by various agencies within the European Commission as well as in the 27 member states.