Although talk of holding a Sustainable Living Exposition in Vancouver began ten years ago, the idea took all this time to come to fruition.
The Globe Foundation, a non-profit organization which was created to help environmental firms, corporate environmental managers, and financial institutions capitalize on international opportunities in the sphere of the environment, is finally ready to launch its Ethical, Progressive, Intelligent, Consumer Exposition (EPIC).
"We never thought the market was quite right for it, but with everything that is going on with climate change it is becoming so important to the public. The timing is exceptional. People in Vancouver are asking for it," says Nancy Wright, Vice President of Marketing for the Globe Foundation.
Wright says that for the first time, sustainable development is becoming more main stream because "a lot of the people that live in Vancouver are inclined to be proactive in protecting the environment. We tend to have a greater passion about the environment."
The concept of sustainable development was first popularized in 1987, in Our Common Future , a book published by the World Commission for Environment and Development. The Brundtland Commission describes sustainability thus: "Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."
Yet, the people that do put sustainable practices into action wrongly believe that they're alone in wanting to save the environment, according to a poll conducted by James Hogan and Associates, an independent public relations firm in Vancouver.
"This survey shows it must be a shared agenda, that bringing communities together is a key component. We all need to force change," says Wright.
With the release of Al Gore's documentary, An Inconvenient Truth , and a growing appreciation among international conglomerates that this is the direction that our economy has to take, Wright says the environment has become "pervasive in public dialogue."
So much so that even Walmart is getting in on the act. Wright says Walmart's CEO had an epiphany when he was out fishing with the CEO of one of the world's larger environmental groups. He decided it was time to make some changes.
"Walmart is now the biggest retailer of organic food on earth. Walmart is a great example of what can happen when a multinational corporation is on side. They are going to force their suppliers to go green."
Also stepping forward, at a local level, is BC Hydro. "They are committed to strongly focusing on alternative energy sources," says Wright.
Well-known for its green building, fuel cells, transportation, and bio-technology, Vancouver will be seeing more green hydro, geothermal, and biomass in the energy production industry. Wright also expects to see improvements in wind and solar energy systems.
Is British Columbia primed to become an international leader in sustainable development? Wright says it looks promising.
EPIC comes to the Vancouver Convention & Exhibition Centre at Canada Place on March 16, 17, and18.
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