In 2008, AIEC undertook a number of green initiatives to become a more environmentally sustainable conference and to reduce emissions. This year we will continue to find more ways to reduce waste and improve our practices.

Below are some details on what we are doing and how you can contribute to helping AIEC go green!

What we did in 2008

• IDP Education, with the support of our Green Sponsor, IELTS, used 100% Green Power supplied by Country Energy to power to conference and exhibition. This was an estimated saving of 224 tonnes of CO2 emissions, which is equivalent to taking 47 cars off the road or powering 32 houses for a full year. (Based on information from the BCEC and the Department of Environment and Climate Change)

• IDP Education offset all flights for IDP Education, IELTS and Epic staff to travel to and from the conference. By offsetting the estimated 525,788 Kilometers travelled (producing 117 tonnes of CO2), we enabled the plantation of more than 200 Mallee Eucalypts which will remove Carbon Dioxide from the atmosphere and helped to reduce levels of greenhouse gases (statistics and calculations based on information provided by CO2 Australia).

• The conference registration brochure was reduced from a 24 page booklet down to 8 pages. By doing this, we saved 160,000 printed pages from being produced.

• The conference registration brochure and conference program was produced on 100% recycled, unbleached and uncoated paper.

• The registration brochure was mailed in recycled envelopes instead of plastic wrap.

• We did not produced a printed delegate list - saving 24,000 printed pages. This was available instead electronically on the conference website.

• The conference satchel was produced using fully natural, lighter and biodegradable products - with thanks to our Green Sponsor, IELTS

• We limited the number of inserts in the delegate satchel as well as limiting the size allowed. This saved an estimated 57,000 printed pages. We have encouraged all sponsors and exhibitors to only use recycled paper with all their materials.

What you can do:

• If travelling to Sydney, offset your flights with carbon credits. Most airlines offer this as an option and you can offset your flights at any time, even after you have travelled. From Melbourne to Sydney, it will cost approximately $2 for a return trip. From London to Sydney it will cost approximately $30 Australian dollars. (Based on calculations provided by Qantas).

• When in Sydney, travel to and from the airport using Sydney's Airport Link (www.airportlink.com.au). This is a quick and convenient way to travel and you will avoid the 12km trip in a cap and beat the traffic which can often be very congested. The train departs from the domestic and international terminals and arrives at central station or any of the city circle stations.

• Walk to and from the Convention Centre from your hotel. If half of all delegates decided to walk instead of catch a cab each day, we would save well over 4,000 cab journeys. To help, we will open the cloak room every day so that you can wear your walking shoes and check them in before the conference.

• Catch the monorail or light rail to the Convention Centre (www.metrotransport.com.au). Both modes of transport will take delegates from the city right to the Sydney Convention Centre door. Alight at "Convention".

• We encourage you to join us at all social events, however, if you are not planning to attend, please hand in your tickets. This will help our catering numbers and prevent food waste. We will provide you with an opportunity at registration to do this.

• Make suggestions on how we can make this and future conferences even greener - write to us at aiec2009@epicconferences.com.au 

^{* Note that a printed page refers to a single side of a printed page.}