Catherine Carter |
Friday, 28 August 2009 12:01 AM |
One Comment
The Property Council has been campaigning for several years for the ACT’s movement into a greener future, and the second annual “Switch to Green” expo and conference, to be held at the National Convention Centre, September 10-12, with its practical sessions and demonstrations, as well as expert advice and information, seems a positive step towards such a future.
“Switch to Green” not only provides an opportunity to monitor and consider Canberra’s movement towards a green and sustainable future, it also brings together a range of community representatives and stakeholders from government, community, business, and academia to work on the challenges that movement will create.
The expo will showcase the best in green products and services. The conference program will provide participants with a greater understanding of the environmental impact of our average lifestyle as well as practical information on how to reduce that impact.
The conference has four key themes: increasing the use of solar energy, making office buildings more energy efficient, retrofitting homes for greener performance, and improving and increasing the use of public transport.
The last item is particularly well timed in view of recent ACT Government initiatives to produce an integrated transport plan for Canberra.
Conference speakers include local experts, such as ANU’s Professor Will Steffen; Achmin Steiner, the executive director of the UN Environment Program and Professor Hubert Gijzen, who directs the UNESCO Regional Science Bureau for Asia and the Pacific.
Local and international environmental groups are represented, too. Paul Gilding, former CEO of Greenpeace International, for example, will be speaking.
Geoscientists and energy engineers will speak of renewable power options for homes and offices as well as vehicular transport, and the final day of the conference will be looking towards the future.
This event, presented by organisations that include the Property Council, the UN Association of Australia (ACT), the ACT Government, the ANU Climate Change Institute, the Conservation Council and See Change, is the perfect opportunity to address the progress Canberra has made in the past 12 months and to introduce the new initiatives needed for successful steps forward towards a cleaner, green future.
Catherine Carter |
Friday, 28 August 2009 12:01 AM |
One Comment
