Brussels, 25/05/2011 (Agence Europe) - Green Week 2011 focuses on the efficient use of natural resources. It was launched by EU Environment Commissioner Janez Potoènik in Brussels on Tuesday 24 May in the form of an appeal to consumers to look for ways to use the planet's resources more efficiently and help the EU meet its keynote objectives for 2020.
Environment Commissioner Janez Potoènik said: “Resource efficiency isn't just about constraints and scarcity - it's a vast array of opportunities for growth and jobs with less waste, a cleaner environment, and better, more sustainable choices for consumers. The scope of this year's Green Week is a clear demonstration of the reach of environment policy - it really is fundamental to the way we choose to live our lives.”
This is the 11th Green Week, a four-day conference where participants will look for better ways to use the planet's resources. Together with discussions on traditional environmental issues like the availability of resources, recycling, biodiversity and soil, the conference will examine issues including the transition to a resource efficient economy; greener chemicals; green skills, employment & innovation; financing eco-innovation; food waste; waste as a resource; water efficiency, construction, and business ideas for the “circular economy”.
Some 3,500 participants (representatives of EU institutions, business and industry, non-governmental organisations, public authorities, the scientific community, academia and the media) will attend more than 38 meetings, workshops and special events to raise public awareness and swap experience and best practice. One of the highlights of the year's Green Week will be a visit to the Solar Impulse at Brussels Zaventem Airport - the first aeroplane designed to fly day and night without requiring fuel or producing carbon emissions. It will be on display to the public until 29 May.
This year's theme of the biggest annual conference on the EU's environment policy supports the EUROPE 2020 flagship initiative on resource efficiency, encouraging a shift towards a resource-efficient, low-carbon economy to achieve sustainable growth. http://www.greenweek2011.eu (A.N./transl.fl)