Guest Blog Post on GLOBE 2016 for Vancouver Economic Commission
Nancy Wright, GLOBE Series
Three decades ago, Vancouver put out the welcome mat for the world—and the global village dropped by to see what our city was all about. I was a teenager that year, and armed with an Expo 86 season pass, I spent most of the summer soaking up the spectacle and meeting people from points afar.
Well, with the support of the Vancouver Economic Commission, in early March our city will once again say “hello world”—and I’m pleased to once again help hold the door open for our guests.
Thousands of delegates, representing more than 50 countries, will swarm Vancouver to talk about how business is already solving pressing social and environmental challenges and showcase cutting edge cleantech solutions.
The GLOBE Leadership Summit and Innovation Expo is now North America’s largest and most influential sustainable business leadership summit. It’s a high-level forum for inspiration and collaboration between business, government, and civil society leaders on how to leverage markets and innovation to address global challenges.
As its name suggests, GLOBE is big: It brings nearly 2,000 thought leaders, from more than 50 countries, together under the sails of the Vancouver Trade and Convention Centre. It also features more than 200 clean-technology solutions providers. Delegates and exhibitors shape future markets, test public policy approaches, and strike deals, partnerships, and collaborations.
It’s also the first major business event in North America to follow the Paris Climate Summit, providing a forum where leaders talk low-carbon innovation and implementation, and investors find opportunities.
Conference speakers include a who’s who of corporate sustainability leaders and innovators—including familiar brands like Facebook, IKEA, Citi, BMW, BASF, and many others. But the event also places a major focus on the role that cities play in the global low-carbon transition with the dedicated Infrastructure and urban development track.
Vancouver Economic Commission chair and CEO Ian McKay will moderate a panel discussion on Green Economic Development: Global Best Practices for Job Creation & Investment. That session will feature:
- Carsten Gaarn-Larsen, CEO, CLEAN, Denmark
- Helen Mountford, Programme Director/Director of Economics, New Climate Economy; Director of Economics, World Resources Institute, United States
- James Alexander, Head of the Finance and Economic Development Initiative, C40, United Kingdom, and
- David Gilford, Vice President & Director, Center for Economic Transformation, New York City Economic Development Corporation, United States
That’s just one session. Others will focus on resilient infrastructure financing and development, fulfilling the promise of Paris, bright green cities and the future of urbanism, a star-studded mayor’s panel, and more.
At GLOBE, companies will showcase cleantech solutions that will help cities meet their targets for energy, waste, and carbon, while reducing costs and improving quality of life outcomes.
GLOBE is a place to learn about the latest in climate-resilient bright-green development and a space where city leaders and staff, developers, architects, planners, and others educate, engage, and empower one another.
I’m pleased to be partnering with the Vancouver Economic Commission, and appreciate its support to pull off the best and most productive GLOBE ever.
Register today at globeseries.com.
