The Australian Greenhouse Office in the Department of the Environment and Heritage is a key supporter of Local Government excellence in greenhouse action. Some 214 Local Governments representing more than 80 per cent of the Australian population play an active role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions through the Cities for Climate Protection™ Australia programme.
The Australian Greenhouse Office is a proud sponsor of the Local Greenhouse Action Award of the National Awards for Local Government. It is also the principal sponsor of an exciting event that will bring Local Governments from around Australia and across the region together in Melbourne next year.
ACCELERATING NOW! Local action: sustainability: iclei oceania is a three day conference to be held in Melbourne from 2-4 May 2007, hosted by ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, with the backing of the Australian Government.
ICLEI – the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives – is an international membership association focused on identifying Local Governments’ role in sustainability. Through ICLEI’s leading campaigns it ensures Local Governments have the tools, technical expertise and political will to play that role effectively.
ICLEI-Australia/New Zealand events have bought together Local Government practitioners, policy makers and political leaders in thought provoking gatherings that explore sustainable development practices. In these unprecedented times, ACCELERATING NOW! offers a bold agenda.
As Local Gvernments around the world lead the charge towards sustainability, this event will focus on strengthening councils’ capacity for effective and lasting action. It will capture the conversation of how Local Governments are progressing the agenda through ICLEI campaigns and provide a road map for how the sector can create the partnerships, leadership and the vision required for this change to occur over the next decade.
Over 400 Local, State and Federal Government practitioners plus policy makers and Local Government Associations are expected to participate. Involvement is also expected from energy utilities, water businesses and Catchment Management Authorities from across Australia and New Zealand, each with responsibility for environmental policies, energy, greenhouse, water, regulation and reporting portfolios. It is also anticipated that international representatives associated with ICLEI partnerships in various programs across this region, as well as with the Global Reporting Initiative, will attend the conference. Attendees will be presented with international, national, and regional perspectives across the range of greenhouse, water and sustainability activities of Local Government. A key feature of the conference will be the use of innovative online learning tools in the lead up to the event.
Participants will engage and develop agendas, share information, and problem solve approaches via the network as a prelude to the face to face conference.
To find out more about this important and exciting event go to www.iclei.org/anz/conference
