|
On 20 November the BPCC organised The Climate Change Seminar at the Polonia Palace Hotel in Warsaw. The BPCC is a partner of the Ministry of Environment's "Partnership for Climate" programme, run in relation to the United Nation’s COP 14 conference in Poznań.
The event was designed to promote alternative energy sources and a reduction in energy consumption, recycling and corporate social responsibility via a presententation of best British practice and the environmental policies of BPCC member companies. WS Atkins, Tesco and Waterman International were partners of the conference. An official opening was made by Janusz Zaleski, deputy minister of environment. “The issues of climate change are some of the most important topics of international debate and we are happy to see commercial business organisations involved in this event,” said Mr Zaleski. Talking about COP 14, the two-week UN conference to be held in Poznań in December, Mr Zaleski said that the exhibition Practical Responses to Climate Change Challenges, covering 160 international innovative projects to help save energy and water and reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, would be one of the most interesting points on the agenda.
“As a non-technical person listening to this fascinating discussion I understand that what I should be doing is building a new office with a data server farm in the basement, the heat from which I use to heat a swimming pool. The roof is covered with grass and there is a pipe network underground which cools and heats the air. The lights come on when I walk into the room and in the winter it is heated with a biomass CHP. I tell everyone about this office and they are multiplied around the city!” concluded Martin Oxley, BPCC CEO, after a fascinating presentation on sustainable architectural engineering design delivered by Neil Lewis from Waterman International. Mr Lewis’s presentation focused on current trends and concepts within building design, specific to the needs of sustainable development. “Whatever decisions and choices we make today must be made confidently in the knowledge that the decision will not adversely affect the planet and society in the future,” said Mr Lewis. The Russia Tower in Moscow, Workplace6 in Sydney and Civil Justice Centre in Manchester are great examples of newly-built “green” constructions but the real challenge will be the refurbishment and delivery of new sustainable systems to old buildings, which by 2020 will be still 70% of the total number of buildings in Europe.
“Atkins works with clients around the world to develop sustainable solutions to the environmental challenges they face. Our carbon calculators and other tools we offer provide customers with the data they need to understand the impact of carbon in their projects,” said Jadwiga Ronikier, head of environment and industry department at Atkins Polska.
|
Talking about the renewable energy sources, Adam de Sola Pool, partner European Investments and Partners, whose company has been operating in Poland for a number of years, stressed the need to build a new, modern and easily connected grid to enable the development of wind power in Poland. Producing wind, solar and biomass power is cheaper and may generate more jobs and investment.
Tesco has been promoting alternative energy sources and its green policy by overcoming barriers of price and incentivising customers to buy greener products. “To turn Tesco green and reduce our carbon footprint we are saving energy by hanging curtains on freezer doors, using better insulation, low-energy lighting and new refrigeration systems. We have launched three environment stores in Poland so far, in Garwolin, Zdzieszowice and Lubartów,” said Czesław Grzesiak, deputy chairman of Tesco Polska.
One of the topics at the conference was the British government’s co-operation with business and industry sector on environmental issues. Michael Halpin, head of the Climate Change and Energy Unit underlined that climate change is a top priority issue for the British government. One of the key things for Mr Halpin’s team for the next 12 months will be raising awareness of the climate problem within Polish society, politicians and media which, in his opinion, do not portray climate change issues in a good light. “An information campaign, run by the government in cooperation with businesses, is crucial and it is important that when the COP 14 is finished our efforts don’t stop,” stressed Mr Halpin.
The conference concluded with a panel discussion on the role of government and the scope of opportunities for the private sector in the context of climate change. “If climate change is to be tackled successfully, we need a new framework in which governments, businesses and consumers each play their part,” said Mr Oxley who moderated the discussion. “Promoting best practice and setting internal environmental policies by the companies is important, however there is a great role for the Polish Government who should not only implement the EU environment and energy law but also try to find its own, domestic path,” said Mr Ronikier. Mr Grzesiak, added that Tesco Polska has overcome numerous legal obstacles when trying to install renewable energy systems in its stores. “Let business go ahead and do not wait for the government,” concluded Mr Halpin. |
