Conference

3 - 6 June 2008 - Charlemagne Building, Brussels

Overshadowed by issues such as climate change, natural resource scarcity and pollution are the lesser known but equally important concerns of production, consumption and waste disposal. Few people are aware of the rate at which humans are depleting the earth's natural resources or that more waste is being produced than can be reused as a useful resource.

Green Week 2008 will try to give answers to questions such as:

• Can businesses (in sectors such as manufacturing, food production or tourism) be successful while also using resources in a sustainable way?
• How is Europe going to deal with the growing mountains of waste?
• How can consumers shop 'responsibly'?
• What is the best way to recycle and does it make a difference?
• It is now urgent to adapt to Climate Change - but how can we combat the effects?
• How can we switch to using sustainable means of transport?
• Can big construction projects such as the London Olympics 2012 be truly 'green'?

To take a closer look at the sustainable use of natural resources, four themes were defined:

1. Resources and Waste Management
2. Sustainable Consumption and Production
3. Nature & Biodiversity and,
4. Climate Change.

There will be nine sessions on each theme. The sessions are numbered according to the theme. During the conference all sessions wil be webstreamed.

The event will provide a unique opportunity for debate, exchanges of experience and best practices among non-governmental organisations, businesses, various levels of government and the public.

Green Week is also a series of side events (Green Talk, Eur-Oceans awards ceremony, CIP information session, LIFE projects awards ceremony), and of side activities and visits (Renewable Energy House, the House "Living Tomorrow", bike testing, recycling company, etc). Please register during Green Week!

We are doing our best to ensure that Green Week is as environmentally-friendly as possible. Green Week printed matter is done on recycled and chlorine-free paper; food and drinks are organic and / or fair trade wherever possible; stands are recycled and water base inks are being used, and so on…Green Week is organised by the Directorate-General Environment of the European Commission which is EMAS registered and which works at improving the environmental impacts of all its activities. Should you wish to offset your carbon emissions, for example for your travel to and from Green Week, organisations offering this possibility will be present at Green Week.

We hope to see you at Green Week and encourage your active participation in the debates!

NB: We will update this information at regular intervals with names of speakers, moderators, etc.