Power of Green Conference to Focus on Building Sustainable Prosperity

A number of international experts will converge on Halifax later this month for a conference that links economic prosperity with sound environmental practices.

The Power of Green: Building Sustainable Prosperity in Nova Scotia, a partnership of the province and Nova Scotia businesses, will take place Sept. 17-18 and will showcase the most advanced thinking in sustainable competitiveness. It will feature international and local speakers on topics as diverse as climate change, green business practices, eco-design and local capital.

"I believe that the health of the economy, the environment and the people are interconnected and that is why we introduced Bill 146 in the House this past spring. I was very pleased that it passed unanimously in the House of Assembly," said Premier Rodney MacDonald. "The Sustainable Prosperity Act sets out more than 20 clear goals for the provincial economy and environment. The conference hopes to establish a core group of stakeholders to promote and build the broader sustainable prosperity objectives beyond the conference."

The premier went on to say that, "the Environmental Goals and Sustainable Prosperity Act sets targets that will make the province one of the cleanest and most sustainable environments in the world by 2020. This conference engages people in a discussion about how a healthy environment contributes to a healthy economy and to our long-term prosperity."

Featured speakers include:

• Bill Shireman, president and CEO of The Future 500 and Global Futures, an organization that aligns the interests of corporations and stakeholders, to advance economic, social and environmental sustainability -- also known as the "triple bottom line." He has been called "a master of environmental entrepreneurism" and has resolved conflicts between some of the world's largest corporations and environmental activist groups. He has also written many of California's recycling laws and is co-author of What We Learned in the Rainforest: Business Principles for the New Economy.

• Gloria Flora, director of Sustainable Obtainable Solutions, a non-profit organization dedicated to the sustainability of public land and of the plants, animals and communities that depend on them. She is a featured expert in the documentary the 11th Hour. Produced and narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio, the 11th Hour features scientists, thinkers and leaders who present the facts and discuss the most important issues that face our planet. In 2004, she was selected as one of the nation's top environmentalists by Vanity Fair Magazine.

• Judy Wicks, owner and founder of the White Dog Café in Philadelphia, focusing on locally grown ingredients and suppliers. She is the recipient of the Living Economy Award from Business Ethics Magazine, the only U.S.-based business magazine focusing on ethics and corporate social responsibility.

• Dr. John Nyboer, co-director of the energy and materials research group at Simon Fraser University and co-author, The Cost of Climate Policy.

• Gary Lines, climate change section, Meteorological Service of Canada -- Atlantic Region with Environment Canada. He has become a regional science authority on climate change and is a resource for the Seasonal Forecast.

• Dr. Ronald Colman is founder and executive director of GPIAtlantic. He has researched and written many reports on indicators of population health, community well-being and environmental quality. He will present a report on the state of sustainability at the conference.

The two-day event will also include several panel discussions led by Nova Scotia business and environmental leaders.

"Nova Scotia understands the important relationship between economic development and environmental protection," said Mark Parent, Minister of Environment and Labour. "This conference looks at how we can improve both our environment and our economy. The health of the environment, the economy and the people of Nova Scotia are interconnected."

The conference will expand on the dialogue of sustainable development that began with the creation of the province-s economic growth strategy, Opportunities for Sustainable Prosperity, in 2006.

"Nova Scotians have already shown themselves to be leaders in the green economy," said Economic Development Minister Richard Hurlburt. "We always need to look for better ways to improve Nova Scotia's well-being socially, economically and environmentally. This conference will help initiate discussion and ideas about sustainable development."

The goals of the conference include encouraging sustainable business practices, building new networks of people, companies and organizations involved in the area of sustainability, showcasing innovative local, national and international sustainability projects, enhancing the branding of Nova Scotia and aligning the conference outcomes with the goals and objectives of the Deputy Minister's Forum on Sustainable Prosperity.

The conference is hosted by the departments of Economic Development and Environment and Labour. Conference partners include Nova Scotia Power Inc., Jacques Whitford, Heritage Gas, Clearwater, Greater Halifax Partnership and Resource Recovery Fund Board (RRFB). To register or to find out more about the conference, go to www.thepowerofgreen.ca .