Attracting over 300 participants, our 2012 conference focused on the International Year of Sustainable Energy for All. The morning session focused on how in the UK and Europe we can work towards the UN objectives of doubling the rate of improvement in energy efficiency and the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. Our afternoon session explored how we can make the objective of universal energy access for all a reality in developing countries.
Morning session: Changing our energy behaviour
If we are to meet our legally binding carbon reduction targets in the UK and Europe and reduce our bill for importing energy, we can’t rely on technology alone. Chaired by Jonathon Porritt of Forum for the Future, this session focused on how to create and maintain behaviour change among commuters, employees, communities and householders and others.
Participants heard from behaviour change expert Joanna Yarrow as well as Holly Knight, Head of Sustainability at the Olympic Delivery Authority.
Ashden Award finalists Susan Osborne of the University Hospital of South Manchester, Keith Jones of the National Trust and Peter Vansevenant of the City of Ghent in Belgium also showed through a mix of films, presentations and Q&A how they have changed the culture and fabric of their environments to make them more sustainable and save on fuel costs.
Afternoon session: Making universal energy access a reality
In keeping with the theme of our conference, the chair of this session was Richenda Van Leeuwen of the UN Foundation, a key champion of the International Sustainable Energy for All Initiative.
Participants heard how our international finalists are helping contribute to universal energy access, showing how progress on cutting carbon can go hand-in-hand with improving livelihoods, empowering women and improving health and education. They also heard the messages that our finalists want decisionmakers at Rio+20 in June to hear, which Richenda pledged to take with her.
UK and Sustainable Travel winners
• Susan Osborne, University Hospital of South Manchester — view slides
• Keith Jones, National Trust — view slides
• Peter Vansevenant: Cycle in Ghent, City of Ghent, Belgium — view slides
• Russell Smith, Parity Projects — view slides
• Andrew King, Energy4All — view slides
• Neil Jennings, Student Switch Off — view slides
• Ali Clabburn, liftshare.com — view slides
International winners
• Tri Mumpuni, IBEKA — view slides
• Oliver Hass, GIZ and Integration — view slides
• Rick Hooper, Barefoot Power — view slides
• Michael Roberts, iDE andHydrologic — view slides
• LH Manjunath, SKDRDP — view slides
Conference partners
This year we were very grateful for the support of a number of organisations who share our commitment to raising awareness of the potential for clean energy to improve lives and tackle climate change.
