Brisbane will be the first Australian city to host the World Environmental Education Congress (WEEC), when it comes to the River City in July this year.
Now in its sixth year, the Congress will be held at the Brisbane Convention Exhibition Centre from the 19-23 July and will cover a number of environmental issues under the theme: Explore, Experience, Educate.
Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said the Congress was the perfect opportunity for Brisbane to show off its sustainability credentials and expertise.
“Since elected, my team and I have delivered numerous policies to ensure that Brisbane is Australia’s cleanest, greenest and most sustainable city,” Cr Quirk said. Council now purchases 100 per cent of its energy from renewable sources and offsets all of the emissions from our bus and vehicle fleets."
“We’re well on the way to reaching our four year target of planting 2 million trees by March next year and we will have protected 500 hectares of bushland by 2012. This year’s Congress will give the international community a first-hand glimpse of how strong this city’s commitment is to preserving our environment for future generations.”
Delegates from organisations with a stake in environmental and sustainability education will take part in the international congress, to hear from global experts about the latest in environmental research, industry and policy developments, and educational programs.
Brisbane Marketing Convention Bureau Director, Annabel Sullivan said that the important environmental Congress is expected to attract more than 600 delegates and generate more than $2 million worth of economic value for the city of Brisbane.
“Brisbane is increasingly becoming a drawcard for international business events because of its strengths in a diverse range of industries and quality of local expertise,” said Ms Sullivan.
“Our internationally-renowned industry leaders, universities and research communities provide conference organisers with excellent links to acclaimed thought-leaders and innovators."
“The Congress has previously held in Portugal, Brazil, Italy, South Africa and Canada. This will be the first time that it will be held in the Asia Pacific region and is a real coup for Brisbane,” she said.
Local key note speakers include international climate change expert, Professor Jean Palutikof, Director of the National Climate Change Adaptation Research
Facility Queensland’s Griffith University, and Ian Lowe, Griffith University’s Emeritus Professor of Science, Technology and Society, President of the Australian Conservation
Foundation and member the Queensland Climate Change Council will deliver a speech at the Congress dinner.
The five-day Congress program will encourage participants to learn and share new ways of thinking and to explore trends in research and practice in environmental education and focus on the science impact on climate change in the Asia Pacific. The Congress will also provide an opportunity for young people to discuss the nature and purpose of environmental education in the future.
Participants will have the chance to network and engage with environmental educators work in schools, higher education, federal, state and local government agencies, non-government organisations, industry, business and education.
