News Update




	Monday 16 April 2007 Registration is now closed On Friday afternoon conference registration closed due to reaching its upper limit. This is a fantastic achievement. The ICLEI-A/NZ conference team is very pleased with the result and hasten to add that the “Get Involved” Pre-Conference Discussion Forums are open to anyone with internet access. Click here. The people registered for the conference are from a diverse range of organisations. Rural and urban councils face an array of issues and are at varying stages of engagement in ICLEI campaigns. We look forward to seeing you at this exciting event, which will shape the next decade of sustainability action for local government. ICLEI-A/NZ acknowledges the State Government of Victoria's sponsorship contribution We recognise their Principal Supporter status through the cumulative funds provided by the following departments and agencies, Department of Environment and Sustainability (DSE), Department of Primary Industry, Sustainability Victoria, VicHealth Foundation, the EPA and Melbourne Water. ICLEI-A/NZ has an ongoing relationship with many of these departments who support numerous capacity building programs including the Cities for Climate Protection Victorian Rural Initiative, SME Energy Efficiency and Local Economic Development, supported by DSE, Eco Innovative Cities supported by Sustainability Victoria and Sustainable Transport supported by VicHealth. The State Government of Victoria are also a key partner or the Centre for Public Agency Sustainability Reporting™. We look forward to continued partnerships with these government agencies and their valued contributions to ACCELERATING NOW! Thursday 4 April 2007 Workshop Sale Day One Practical Skills Building Workshops $50 off standard price. Register for Day One workshops at a special price! Come for the whole conference or just the Day One Workshops. Already registered for the conference? you can now add the optional Day One for $170 (edit registration using online access key or via email at iclei2007@meetingplanners.com.au If you only want to attend Day One Workshops you can do so for the same low price of $170 here Wednesday 28 March 2007 Registration closing date announced Due to an overwhelming response, the upper limit of registration numbers is drawing near. There are only 70 spaces left for the event of the decade and registration will close 5pm (EST) 18 April 2007. Don't be disappointed – Register Now! Mapping a pathway for the next decade The concluding conference session will provide direction for the next decade by reflecting on action priorities and crosscutting issues, and who will champion these on our way forward. Read more about the Mapping a pathway for the next decade session, to be held on Conference Day Three, Friday 4 May 2007, 3.45pm - 5.00pm. Confirmed speakers Confirmed speakers currently include: * The Hon. John Thwaites, Minister for Water, Environment and Climate Change, State Government of Victoria * Malcolm Alexander General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Genesis Energy, NZ * Cheryl Batagol, Chair, Melbourne Water * Rob Gell, Environmental Communicator * Ian Kiernan, Chairman, Clean Up Australia * Geoff Lawler, Director Sustainability and Innovation, City of Melbourne * Sam Mostyn, Group Executive, Culture and Reputation, Insurance Australia Group * Peter Neilson, Chief Executive , New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development * Lord Mayor John So, City of Melbourne * David Spokes, Chief Executive Officer, City of Port Phillip * Professor David de Kretser, AC, Governor of Victoria Panel 2 online discussion now open! To help shape the panel focus join the Panel 2 topic on the Discussion Forum and provide your response to the following question: How is climate change shifting the way we plan for the future? See the Panel 2 topic resource page for a list of references and additional information before contributing to the discussion. Program Highlights Over 12 concurrent sessions on an array of topics including greenhouse, water and the sustainability activities of local government from international, national, and regional perspectives. Australasian Mayors Council on Climate Protection (AMCCP) An opportunity for mayors and councillors to be updated on the Planning Group's work to inaugurate the AMCCP. The session promises to be a springboard for CCP councils to move into accelerated action in collaboration with other spheres of government and in partnership with other sectors of the community. Panels Panel 1: In a world that increasingly values carbon, what does this mean for the acceleration of local governments' abatement action? This panel will explore a new horizon where emissions trading, carbon offsets and sequestration could become part of local government's normal business practice and fundamental to a carbon neutral response. Panel 2: How is Climate Change shifting the way we plan for the future? Panel speakers discuss how the reality of climate change and climate variability has altered their organisational and management approaches. Gala Dinner at the National Gallery of Victoria An evening to acknowledge and recognise the last decade of council success and present councils with ‘Decade of Achievement Awards'. Sustainable Industries Networking event A facilitated networking opportunity between businesses and council staff to identify suitable products or services that could assist with the implementation of council actions. Discussion forums and website resources A key feature of the Conference is the use of innovative online learning tools in the lead-up to the event. We encourage all delegates to Get Involved and engage, share information and problem solve approaches via the web as a prelude to the face-to-face Conference. Friday 09 March 2007 Online Collaboration You can now GET INVOLVED with the pre-conference activity! The first topic relates to the Sustainable Industries Networking Session on Wednesday Day ONE, just prior to the Welcome Reception. (See program for times.) The topics that follow will relate to the conference panels and sessions that we anticipate you'll attend in person. In order to maximise that time and make the resulting emissions worthwhile the time spent prior to the conference on these topics will allow sessions to achieve a depth of discussion. This depends on your contribution, your expressing your opinions based on your experience. Click GET INVOLVED now, to give your input. New Speaker Announced Cheryl Batagol, Chair - Melbourne Water Panellist on “How Climate Change is Shifting the Way we Plan for the Future” and Final Session, “Mapping a Pathway for the Next Decade”, Day three, 4 May 2007. Dinner Celebration - Gala Dinner Venue Confirmed We are proud to announce that the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) will be the location for the Gala Dinner on Thursday 3 May 2007 . This is shaping up to be a truly spectacular event where all councils who have participated in ICLEI campaigns in the last 10 years will be recognised. The location was chosen in part due to it's proximity to the Grand Hyatt, being walking distance from the NGV. Other "Green Event" aspects of this venue include: 1. A portion of NGV's energy is Green Power 2. Recycled water is used for the water features, and watering the gardens 3. 90% of NGV staff commute using Public Transport Pathways session The final session of ACCELERATING NOW! aims to map out a direction for the conference delegates and ICLEI-A/NZ on the pathway forward for the next decade of sustainability in local government. The conference provides us with a unique opportunity to explore the factors contributing to successful approaches and learnings over the last 10 years and provide principles for moving forward. The “Pathways for the Future- Mapping Session” will pull together themes and directions emerging from keynote speeches, panels, and concurrent sessions to enable delegates to identify priorities and build the plan for the next decade. AMCCP The Australasian Mayors Council for Climate Protection is gathering momentum with mayors of Australia and New Zealand planning how they can use their unique position and influence to drive an Australasian Climate Change agenda. Melbourne in May. Mayors from across Australia and New Zealand will come together at the ACCELERATING NOW! conference in May to launch this exciting initiative. Many of the sessions at the conference will make recommendations to the AMCCP for issues to take on in the coming year. Program - Thursday 3 May 2007 11am - 12:30 Panel Discussion Topic - In a world that increasingly values carbon, what does this mean for the acceleration of local government's abatement action? The panel will explore a new horizon where emissions trading, carbon offsets and sequestration could become part of local government's normal business practice and fundamental to a carbon neutral response. Monday 05 February 2007 The Honourable John Thwaites, MP Deputy Premier, Minister for Water, Environment, Climate Change has confirmed as a Keynote Speaker Wednesday 31 January 2007 CCP-NZ councils offered Funding Support to attend ACCELERATING NOW! The Communities for Climate Protection Programme and Genesis Energy (New Zealand) have combined their resources to offer all current participating CCP-NZ councils funds to enable the council's Mayor/Chair (or CCP-NZ nominated councillor) and the CCP-NZ Primary Contact Officer to attend this conference. The funds are to assist with associated costs for flights and accommodation to attend the conference from 2-5 May 2007 at the Grand Hyatt in Melbourne Australia. This offer is available until 31 March 2007. Details have been forwarded to CCP-NZ councils and for more information contact Diana Shand, CCP-NZ National Programme Manager, ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability +64 (0)4 471 1989. http://www.iclei.org/index.php?id=4046 Monday 11 December 2006 Registration now open! For information on how to register please click here Group Booking Discount Book 4 and the 5th is free! See registration page for more information