Over half the world's population now live in cities. This puts extra
strain on natural resources and results in major challenges
surrounding the provision of adequate shelter, clean water, and
waste management services. Thankfully, worldwide initiatives to
create eco-cities are underway.
During The Urban Infrastructure Revolution sessions speakers
will address key challenges and opportunities that are emerging
during the creation of new green cities and the transformation of
existing urban areas into sustainable communities.
Green Infrastructure: Sustainability at
Work
The economic downtown has helped to stimulate "green" job growth
and economic activity thanks to the revitalization of old
infrastructure and the building of new projects. Moderated by Mira
Shenker, Editor of ReNew Canada, this session
will focus on how municipal infrastructure renewal efforts have
been used to accelerate sustainability and also look at what types
of projects are most effective for long-term asset management and
community success.
Eco Communities: Designing a Sustainable
Future
Buildings are significant producers of greenhouse gas emissions.
During this session, speakers will discuss the green building
principles, design practices, and policies that are transforming
the construction industry. Attendees will hear how cities and
entire communities are becoming more sustainable thanks to better
planning, integrated developments, and the design of
resource-efficient, high-performance buildings.
Future of Cities Dialogue
Great cities rely on in-depth planning and foresight for their
successful development. This dialogue will focus on what tools and
technologies can be used to help cities function better, improve
the quality of life for residents, and reduce their overall
environmental impact. The overarching question being: what will the
city of the future look like? Speakers include:
Mike Harcourt, Chairman, QUEST, Vancouver, BC,
Canada (moderator)
Roland Aurich, President & CEO, Siemens
Canada, Burlington, ON, Canada
Peter Busby, Managing Director, Busby Perkins + Will, Vancouver,
BC, Canada
Gregor Robertson, Mayor, City of Vancouver, BC,
Canada
Smart Cities: Connections for the Future
Cities are becoming "smarter" as their environmental footprints
decrease due to the development and implementation of new data and
energy management systems. Join speakers from The Geller Group, EnBW Energie Baden-Wurttemberg AG, Toronto Hydro
Corporation, Pulse Energy, and Powertech Labs Inc. as they discuss the part
new software, the Internet, and cutting-edge technologies will play
in the coming smart "grid" revolution.
Energizing Our Cities
More than ever before, municipal leaders have their choice of
alternative and renewable energy options to power cities and towns.
During this session attendees hear how new energy technologies and
applications for industrial, commercial, and residential
development are driving clean power to energize our cities.
Plug-in Car Recharging Infrastructure: Case studies for
Municipalities
Two main obstacles impede the early adoption and integration of
electric cars, these being:
- The lack of recharging infrastructure
- The high cost of electric and plug-in hybrid cars verses
traditional internal combustion engine vehicles
Some government entities in Canada are offering incentives and
solutions to these problems. The Province of Ontario is offering up
to $10,000 towards the purchase of an electric car, and in
Vancouver ten percent of parking spots in new condominiums will be
outfitted with electric vehicle charging stations. During this
panel speakers will look at the challenges, strategies, and case
studies that will help city and municipal mangers devise action
plans for installing recharging infrastructure.
To find out more about these sessions, to register for GLOBE
2010, or to see the full speaker list click here.
And be sure to connect with us on Twitter: @GLOBE_Series and join discussions
about the business of the environment with other GLOBE 2010
participants in our newly formed GLOBE LinkedIn group.