Grand opening of the 2011 Macao International Environmental Cooperation Exhibition and Forum (2011MIECF) will take place this Thursday (March 31). The event will be held for three consecutive days at the Venetian Macao-Resort Hotel. MIECF comprises several activities, including exhibition, business matching and several conferences under the Green Forum. Part of the conferences will be held on the second day. Top government officials, experts and academics in the field of environmental protection from all over the world will gather at the MIECF to discuss the latest environmental issues. With regards to the Forum, the number of sessions has been increased from five sessions (last year) to seven sessions this year and will cover an analysis on the experience gathered from the development of low-carbon cities in different parts of the world, as well as the development of urban planning of Macao en route to be a city with low carbon emission. The Organizers have especially invited researchers from home and abroad to share the results of their research and their practical experience. The Green Opportunities Forum will start in the afternoon of the very first day, during which the speakers will focus on two major themes, namely: “Exploring Green Market Business Opportunities” and “Opportunities in Green Sectors: E-Mobility”. On the other hand, on April 1, there will be more sessions of the Green Forum, including “Urban Planning and Eco City Development”, which will be held in the morning, when the speakers will discuss about the importance of improving urban planning for a sustainable development in an high-speed development scenario, and debate on how urban planning can create eco-city development programs. In the “Low Carbon Urban Industries: Sustainable Tourism”, discussions will focus on how to create a low-carbon urban environment and the regional positioning and sustainable development of Macao as a world tourism and leisure centre. Representatives from the Ministry of Environmental Protection of the PRC, APA – Agência Portuguesa do Ambiente, from Portugal, PATA (Pacific Asia Travel Association) and the Environmental Protection Bureau of Beijing Municipality will be the keynote speakers. In addition to the above-mentioned two sessions, there will be three more sessions under the Green Forum, including “Green Buildings: Foundations of a Low Carbon Future”, “Clean Energy & Smart Grid” and “Green Chemical Forum”. It is hoped that through the above topics discussions, practical experience from Mainland China and oversas will be introduced to Macao, while creating conditions for Macao to become a demonstration platform for environmental technology. Furthermore, from 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on the same day, Mr. Klaus Toepler, former Deputy Secretary-General Former United Nations Undersecretary-General and Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme will deliver his keynote address. For related enquiries, please contact the MIECF Secretariat at tel. (853) 8798-8675, fax (853) 2872-7123, e-mail miecf@ipim.gov.mo or navigate to the following official MIECF website: www.macaomiecf.com
