This year’s National Energy Management Exhibition (NEMEX) opens at the NEC Birmingham in May, featuring a new second conference theatre to mark its 30th anniversary with a host of top level keynote speakers who will be expanding the ideas and available advice for energy professionals.
One of the country’s leading environmentalists, Tony Juniper, will be spearheading the NEMEX seminar programme, alongside a number of influential MPs, including Barry Gardiner MP, Ed Milliband’s special envoy on climate change and environment, and Alan Whitehead MP, chair of the All Party Parliamentary Renewable and Sustainable Energy Group.
Leading government experts will be joined by their counterparts from commerce and independent commentators to explore some of the key environmental issues faced by businesses. The main challenge of course being how to reduce energy usage in line with the strict targets set by the UK government – to reduce CO2 emissions by 80% by 2050 and to obtain 15% of the country’s electricity from renewable sources by 2020.
Juniper will be looking at why behavioural change has been a relatively neglected aspect of the sustainable development debate. As well as offering insights into possible remedies, he will suggest the need for a more sophisticated approach to shaping peoples’ actions in relation to sustainability outcomes as we move towards a low carbon economy.
Other high level commentators during the three day seminar programme include Norman Baker MP, under secretary of state, Department for Transport and David Porter, chief executive of the Association of Electricity Producers, each delivering sessions on energy policy and electricity market reform. Meanwhile, Alan Whitehead MP will be discussing managing the demand for energy, including that from renewable sources.
Also at the exhibition will be the award winning EcoInteractive displays from Global Action Plan that are cleverly designed to motivate individuals to change behaviour. Visitors can learn about the importance of water conservation through the fun quiz-based Water Explorer, and also try the EcoDriving simulator that teaches eco-driving techniques to save money and carbon. It’s a car race with a difference – the driver with the highest miles per gallon (mpg) wins the race.
The free to visit NEMEX show, featuring 375 plus exhibitors across Sustainabilitylive!, will take place on 22nd-24th in halls 3 and 3a at the NEC, Birmingham. As NEMEX forms part of the Sustainabilitylive! exhibition, visitors can access a total of six seminar theatres collectively hosting over 100 hours of environmental debate – including topics around sustainable water management and brownfield development – delivered by more than 300 speakers.
