Note to media: If you are interested in interviewing a BCIT expert on Ecocity and/or topics related to sustainability, please contact Amy Chen, 778-384-7245. Please also contact Amy if you would like to attend any of the events below.
More than 7-million people across 150 countries rallied for bolder actions on climate change at the recent Global Climate. Nearly 1,000 environmental experts from around world will continue these important conversations as they convene at Ecocity World Summit 2019 (Ecocity) in Vancouver from October 7-11.
In a sea of conference attendees and a packed program of activities, presentations, and workshops, it is sometimes daunting to map out a conference itinerary of what to see, where to go, and who to network with. To help you get started, here are top recommendations from BCIT:
1. World Habitat Day and Zero Energy/Emissions Building Exhibition at Science World (Oct 7)
In 1976, the United Nations launched World Habitat Day from Vancouver, BC. The day is a reminder of our basic right to adequate shelter, and the responsibility and power that we hold in shaping our communities. To mark this year’s World Habitat Day, City of Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart and BCIT President Kathy Kinloch will be unveiling the Zero Energy/Emissions Building exhibition that is on display at Science World from October to December 3. The exhibit will travel across BC in the months to come.
2. Keynote: A personal journey from urban stream restoration to World Rivers Day (Oct 8)
Join Mark Angelo, Founder of BC Rivers Day and World Rivers Day, for a keynote that explores the value of urban waterways and the pressures that confront them. Mark will also share his journey traveling more than 1,000 rivers and his inspirational conservation and restoration efforts as he paddled through each.
3. Opening remarks and keynote: Sustainable cities and lifestyles (Oct 9)
Be a part of an important discussion with BCIT Director of Institute Sustainability Dr. Jennie Moore and other world-leading eco-footprint experts that pinpoints consumption hotspots and explores the extent to which cities enable citizens to live within ecological limits. Walk away with an understanding of what is needed to close the sustainability gap.
4. Visit the BCIT booth during exhibition hours (Oct 8-10)
From a mobile living wall to an electric vehicle charged using solar panels, the BCIT booth will feature a rotation of projects that provide innovative solutions to address the complex challenges facing humanity in a rapidly urbanizing world.
5. Field Trip: Sustainability at BCIT: Campus living labs and the OASIS Microgrid System (Oct 8)
Hop on transit and tour the BCIT Burnaby campus to see how sustainability is taught throughout our programs and embedded in our curriculum. You’ll visit the Energy OASIS facility, which was the first campus-based microgrid in Canada. As well, visits to living labs will include the High Performance Building Lab, the Elevated Lab at the Centre for Architectural Ecology, and Factor Four.
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Not attending Ecocity? Here’s how you can take part, especially if you’re on one of the BCIT campuses.
About Ecocity World Summit:
Ecocity World Summit (Ecocity) is the longest-standing international conference focused on building cities in balance with nature. It is a biennial event with thousands of delegates from around the world.
The 2019 Ecocity is hosted by the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) in collaboration with the City of Vancouver and Tourism Vancouver at the Vancouver Convention Centre West from October 7-11. The conference will consist of keynote and guest speakers, presentations, and local field trips that surround this year’s conference theme of Socially Just and Ecologically Sustainable Cities.