Media advisory - Going Green - From the European Union to Canada: Smart Choices for a Sustainable Future

MONTREAL, March 18, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - What is our vision of a "smart" economy, based on clean energy ad sustainable growth? Are Canadian and European cities that have opted for green development doing better than those that have not? What are the issues and challenges to be met? What are the costs and benefits of adopting sustainable behaviours?

All of these questions will be discussed by some one hundred European and Canadian green economy experts at "Going Green: Smart Choices for a Sustainable Future." This major conference presented by the European Union within the framework of the international trade show AMERICANA, will take place on March 20 at the Palais des congrès de Montréal.

The conference will begin with a keynote presentation by acclaimed economist Jeremy Rifkin, president of the Foundation on Economic Trends and best-selling author; the participants will discuss best practices in cities in terms of energy efficiency and clean energy. The cities of Hamburg and Nantes, named European Green Capital in 2011 and 2013 respectively, will be presented as examples.

Also participating in the event will be Environment Minister Peter Kent.

	What:	"Going Green: Smart Choices for a Sustainable Future"
	When:	Wednesday, March 20, 2013, starting at 9 a.m.
	Where:	Palais des congrès de Montréal

Here is a preview of the conference agenda:

9:00 - 9:20	Welcome Ambassador Matthias Brinkmann, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Canada. Peter Kent, Minister of the Environment, Canada.
9:20 - 10:45	"Leading the way to a Third Industrial Revolution" Jeremy Rifkin, President, Foundation on Economic Trends, Washington DC
10:45 - 12:45	The story of energy efficiency Franck J. Convery, University College of Dublin Andrew Warren, Association for the Conservation of Energy (ACE) in London (UK) Max Auffhammer, UC Berkeley (US). Megan Leslie, MP, New Democratic Party. Pierre-Emmanuel Noel, Lecturer in Infrastructure Finance, Sciences Po Paris. Luc Vriens, CEO Waterleau
14:00 - 15:45	The story of cities: in the EU and in Canada Hans Gabányi, Head of department for Energy and Natural Resources in Hamburg (European Green Capital 2011) Jean-François Retière, Vice-President of Nantes Métropole Penny Ballem, City Manager, Vancouver Alan De Sousa, City Counsellor, City of Montreal
16:00 - 17:45	The smart economy vision of the future: clean energy, sustainable growth and survival of the planet Matthias Ruete, Director General for Mobility and Transport, Director General for Mobility and Transport (DG MOVE), European Commission Robert Hardt, President and CEO, Siemens Canada. John Rhind, Vice-President Operations, Heavy Oil, Shell Canada Humberto Delgado Rosa, Director of Directorate C, 'Mainstreaming Adaptation and Low carbon Technology', Directorate-General Climate Action,(DG CLIMA), European Commission. David Mc Laughlin, former President and CEO of the National Round-Table on the Environment and the Economy, Canada.

The event program is available on its official website http://www.cvent.com/events/going-green-conference/event-summary-d57935caa4b0428d8b1cb0928685b3fe.aspx

SOURCE: European Union

Jade St-Jean
Morin Relations Publiques
514-289-8688, ext. 235
Cell: 514 716-7530
[email protected]