Durban International Convention Centre

A host of green events, entertainment and exhibits will be held as part of the Climate Change Response Expo (CCR) which opens next week Monday the 28th November.

The biggest green expo in SA to date, it will be running alongside the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 17) in Durban and is expected to draw over 30 000 people and 15 000 UN delegates!

More than 100 exhibitors will showcase their innovations towards clean and efficient energy, sustainable development and water resource management amongst a host of climate change initiatives.

Business, Green Solutions, Science and Technology, Water, Environment, Energy, Government, NGOs and International exhibitors will all be involved to encourage the public to engage in green ideas and thinking.

Also amongst the displays are the latest eco-friendly and hybrid cars where one can expect to see South Africa’s electric car, the Joule, as well as the Siemens e-chopper.

The entertainment line-up for the whole family will include a range of theatre, music, dance performances and cultural activities. Screens at the venue will live-stream action from inside the UNFCCC precinct and a Speaker’s Corner will be the site of open-air speeches.

Local, organic, fairtrade and fresh food will be available at the food market and will offer a rich diversity of local flavours and amazing eats.

Importantly, the CCR Expo aims to be as green and eco-friendly as possible. The Wild Banana (Strelitzia) leaf canopy has been designed as a cool and shady outdoor space for the expo. The wooden frame is made from re-used gum tree poles and be used again while the leaves will be composted when deconstruction takes place.

The re-create and re-use theme continues with the initiative that will see all unneeded branding and banners being used in the community project Woza Moya to make bags and other items.

Exhibitors are also offered bio-degradable carpeting, energy efficient lighting and re-useable fabric graphics. The Expo will have its own on-site recycling and sorting centre as well as worm farms and composting area for organic waste.

A carbon audit of the CCR Expo and associated events will also be recorded by engineering firm Arup, the outcomes of which will hopefully lead to improved event greening practices in the future.

Located within 300m of the ICC and adjacent to the UN FCCC precinct, the Climate Change Response Expo is open to both delegates and the public, free of charge, from 28 November to 9 December 2011. Opens at 10am. Address: Centrum Car Park, Bram Fischer Road, Durban.