World Sustainable Building Conference 2008

• acclaimed global speakers to challenge conventional thinking
• outcomes to contribute to Climate Change challenge

The impact of building and planning on sustainability and Climate Change will be on the agenda at the 2008 World Sustainable Building Conference (SB08), to be held in Melbourne, September 21-25, 2008. Held every three years, this will be the first time this international event has been held in Australia, and is the peak gathering of the world’s leading sustainable development experts and researchers. SB08 will set the agenda for global solutions for sustainable building and planning for business and industry - including government policies. More than 1500 delegates will attend the five day event, with key plenary sessions and special forums addressing all aspects of the future of sustainable built environment and planning for countries around the world. Opening the Conference is Professor Bill Rees, from the University of British Columbia, and the man best known as the originator of the ‘ecological footprint analysis’ concept. Other keynote international speakers include the leader of California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Green Action Team, Ms Rosario Marin. The Green Action Team is implementing a policy and action agenda aimed at ‘greening’ the state. Internationally recognised leading practitioners, Joe van Belleghem (urban development & re-development) and Bruce Fowle (green building and architecture) will also give keynote presentations. Joe is co-developer of Dockside Green, a 15-acre waterfront urban redevelopment project in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. And Bruce is one of the architects of the new sustainable New York Times Building in collaboration with Renzo Piano Building Workshop. Well known former Victorian politician, Tom Roper, will take part in one of the Special Forums during SB08. The Special Forums will focus on the hottest and most strategic topics of the day. Tom, a former Treasurer and Minister for the Environment in the Victorian Government, is now a Board Member at The Climate Institute in Washington, and a leading thinker on sustainability and climate change adaptation. Co-Chair of SB08, is Dr Greg Foliente, Senior Principal Research Scientist at CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems. “With the current focus on resource consumption, sustainability and Climate Change, discussion during, and outcomes from, SB08 will contribute to how Australia, and many other countries, respond to the challenge to provide affordable, environmentally friendly planning policy and direction for business, government and the general population. “This is a Conference which those involved in all aspects of building, planning and policy making should not miss. It is an opportunity to network with the best and the brightest in the sustainable built environment sector, It is also an opportunity to become informed, and be prepared for the future,” Dr Foliente said. See a full list attached for keynote and special forum speakers. Key sessions include:

• change agents (tools and strategies that are transforming the building and property sector to take up sustainability principles)
• building regulation and standards - how different countries are setting policies and minimum standards of energy and water efficiency
• future cities and communities (what will they be like?)
• the economics of sustainable building
• next-generation building technology
• global issues: buildings' and cities' ecological footprint and climate adaptation strategies

For full program, speakers, registration information, sponsors and supporting organisations visit www.sb08melbourne.com