The bottom line of sustainability on how to make a profit in the new carbon economy will be the focus of Carbon Reduction & Trading Expo and Conference in Melbourne. The event aims to demystify carbon management ahead of the introduction of the carbon trading scheme. July.
According to Marie Kinsella, Expo Organiser, Australian Exhibitions & Conferences , most of the conference presenters and exhibitors said that Australian SMEs have put carbon management in the 'too-hard' basket. Even the experts are struggling with the implications of the new carbon economy. The Carbon Reduction & Trading Expo and Conference will boil it all down into the practical steps businesses must take to deal with the demands they will face from government, suppliers and customers when this new regime begins.
Although only large emitters will be caught under the carbon trading scheme from July next year, businesses of all shapes and sizes need to act immediately. A common mistake that business owners make is to think that if they are not one of the 1000 biggest emitters, the CPRS would not affect them. If they have a customer that is included in the CPRS they will be directly affected.
The carbon emissions generated by the product or service form part of the supply chain, and therefore they will be expected to account for them. It is critical that all businesses understand what the low carbon economy will mean for them and start educating their staff. This can be an opportunity or a risk for business. Given the state of the economy, now is the time to move. Many of the easiest changes business can make to reduce their carbon footprint also result in immediate and direct savings. This is particularly true when it comes to changing the behaviour and practices of staff.
Complementing the free advice, the expo will showcase technology capable of generating power from wind, water, solar and even effluent. Energy saving devices will stretch from efficient LED lights through to nanotechnology.
The concurrent Carbon Reduction & Trading Conference will feature a line-up of speakers, including Anthea Harris, Assistant Secretary, Department of Climate Change, who will present an update on CPRS legislation and what it means for business, plus experts from Sustainability Victoria, the Climate Change Institute, CHOICE, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, Origin Energy, Coffey Environments and the National Australia Bank.
The Carbon Reduction & Trading Expo and Conference will be held at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre.