A renewed, environmentally-friendly and job creating economy: Green Week shows the way
Europe is currently facing two major and rather recurrent challenges. The first one is employment. High unemployment rates keep coming back in Europe following cyclic dynamics, a concern with dramatic social consequences. The second is a world-wide one: global warming and the deterioration of the environment. Due to the world’s scarcity of resources, existing consumption patterns cannot be sustained. There is thus an urgent need to rethink the way we produce and we consume, taking into consideration resource efficiency but also waste reduction, recycling, and the reuse of materials. Circular economy reunites these two aspects: it tackles the environmental question and opens the way to job creation.
PRACSIS has been organising the Green Week for the past 4 years, designing its visual identity and creating its website, branding a 3500m2 venue and coordinating all logistical and technical aspects, including registration, catering and supporting staff.
Over 45 sessions in three days took place in Brussels last 3-5 June 2014. Debates turned around the development of appropriate policy frameworks to boost circular economy models, waste management targets and practical cases and EMAS, the EU Eco-Management and Audit Scheme developed by the European Commission for companies and other organisations to evaluate, report, and improve their environmental performance. Other topics were investment, business and job creation opportunities of the circular economy, amongst others.
Speakers were top-level representatives from private companies, academics, ministries, regional governments, international organisations including EU, UN, EIB, OECD, industry associations, think tanks and global NGO’s. With 4500 registered participants, Green Week 2014 had an outstanding turnout with fully booked sessions leading to inspiring and stimulating debates.
Green Week 2014 did not only take place in Brussels. Over 37.000 people participated in one of the 59 satellite events in 16 countries that were held across Europe in May and June. PRACSIS project managers also took care of the trans-European promotion and recruitment of satellite events, increasing its number by 47.5% from the previous year.