Hosted by the Government of the Macao Special Administration Region, the 2012 Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum and Exhibition (2012MIECF) will open on March 29. In addition to the Green Showcase and Green Matching, the Organiser will organise a number of forums, where senior government officials, experts, academics and entrepreneurs from the environmental field will gather for in-depth discussion on issues relating to the low-carbon city of the future, including green building, clean energy and low-carbon economy. The Organiser hopes that the series of forums dealing with different issues will promote technological exchange and co-operation between Macao, Pan-Pearl River Region, and the worldwide markets, especially those in Europe, Portuguese-speaking countries and other emerging ones. Speakers include experts, academics, high-ranking government officials, business leaders and representatives from world-renowned enterprises in China, Canada, the Netherlands, Germany, Portugal, Chile, United Kingdom Australia, Brazil and Hong Kong. Over 50 speakers will give thematic talks to share their valuable insights and ideas. Among them, two experts with extensive practical experience in the environmental industry will be the keynote speakers of the event. Mr. Andrew Bowerbank, GMF Council Member of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and Mr. Chris Zijdeveld, President of the Dutch Passive Housing Foundation, will give their keynote speeches at the opening ceremony and the forum respectively. A total of six forums will be held this year. The Green Business Forum will take place in the afternoon of the first day of MIECF (29 March). Panellists will focus on two major topics, namely energy efficiency and e-mobility and talk about market trends and business opportunities. The Green Forum, another highlight of this year's MIECF, will be held on the second day (30 March) in two sessions. In the morning session, the focus of discussion is Why Green Buildings is the Key Player in Developing Sustainable Environments and the title for the afternoon session is Green Finance and Green Investment/ Risk Management. The first session will be based on Macao's current urban development and the reclamation planning of the future new city area. Discussion will focus on innovative green building concepts, management of water and construction waste, green building materials and a case study of eco city, with the objective of promoting better living environment while achieving higher economic effectiveness. The second session will identify ways of financing energy efficiency, renewable energy and other environmental projects using technologies and innovative financial instruments. Two more forums will be held in the afternoon on 30 March. The speakers on Environmental Policy and Low Carbon Economic Development will share their views on a number of environmental policies in support of the development of low-carbon economy, include those to promote energy-saving and environmental protection, clean production, low-carbon transportation and green construction. In the forum entitled Techniques and Equipment for Environmental Industry: Business Opportunities, representatives from the Pan-PRD Region, as well as Hong Kong and Macao, will explore the strengthening of traditional environmental industries and to speed up the strategic development of diversified industrial technologies, as well as the effective means of promoting industrial transformation/upgrade and sustainable economic development. Furthermore, a Green Chemical Forum on Energy Conservation and Efficiency will be held in the afternoon to promote the technological exchange among petrochemical enterprises and enhance their knowledge in energy saving, emission reduction and technological innovation, to promote their development in sustainable development. For enquiries, please contact the 2012MIECF Secretariat, tel.: (853) 8798-9675, fax: (853) 2872-3332, e-mail: miecf@koelnmesse.com.hk or visit the official 2012MIECF website: ww.macaomiecf.com
