Media Advisory
21 August 2014
Achieving Genuine progress for the Environment?
ECO Conference - Wellington 22-23 August
Achieving genuine progress for the Environment is the question at the heart of the ECO conference Friday – Saturday
22-23 August where experts and the community will engage with the challenges ahead.
The programme looks at and past current directions on achieving progress for the environment and protecting the things
that New Zealanders value and prosper from. “We treasure our environment with its clean water, our native flora and
fauna, participation in conservation and environment” says co-Chair Barry Weeber. “We treasure our participative
democracy and open government. These things underpin a sustainable and equitable economy, and we don’t want to lose
them.”
Speakers include Liz Mellish from Te Atiawa on Partnerships in Wellington. Wokje Abrahamse from the School of Geography
and Earth Sciences at Victoria University will discuss understanding the psychology of environmental behavior change.
Paul Young from Generation Zero on Decoupling of Fossil Fuels and Climate Voter campaign which has achieved wide
engagement on transport, climate and energy issues over the last 2 years.
New approach to making decisions and participatory democracy will be presented by Ben Knight about Loomio
decision-making tool, and Meg Howie on Ask Away – youth engagement in participatory democracy.
Representatives of the main political parties will debate environmental policies on Friday evening.
The conference is organised by the Environment and Conservation Organisations of NZ (ECO) is being held at Toi Poneke,
61-69 Abel Smith St.
The media are welcome to attend but are asked to make themselves known to organizers.
ECO is a coalition of 50 organisations with a concern for the environment and conservation and includes many local
groups plus large national groups such as Greenpeace and the National Council of Women.
ENDS