Green Events and Resources 2013

GreenWorksGov strives to connect office green teams with other like-minded groups and organizations involved in sustainability efforts.  There are so many benefits, including building your network of expert resources,  learning from others what works and what doesn’t, exchanging ideas and information, partnering on community projects to improve the environment, and pooling scarce resources to achieve shared objectives.  Here are some examples of events and organizations around the world that will be of interest to green teams: 

Wild and Scenic Film Festival—in its 11^th year, the festival is held annually in January in Nevada City, CA, and then it goes on tour to dozens of locations in the US and Canada.  The theme this year is “A Climate of Change.” More than 100 films were accepted for the festival and include short and feature-length films about nature, community activism, adventure, conservation, water, energy, wildlife, environmental justice, agriculture, and Native American and indigenous cultures.  Check out this year’s calendar and tour schedule.  

GreenLiving offers a global calendar for upcoming conferences and events in February and March. Check out what’s on tap in a city near you. 

Green Festivals are held in New York, Chicago, Washington, DC , San Francisco, and Los Angeles.  They are the premiere events with a broad focus on sustainability, including green business, green building renewable energy, healthy lifestyles, and educational pavilions.  Up to 30,000 people attend each festival.  Next up:  New York, April 19-21 and Chicago, May 18-19.  Sign up for email updates on festival details and check out this year’s schedule. 

The Association of University Leaders for a Sustainable Future (ULSF) is my latest discovery, and I’m excited to share it with you.  ULSF is a group of more than 350 universities in 40 countries and its mission is “to support sustainability as a critical focus of teaching, research, operations, and outreach at colleges and universities worldwide….”  ULSF members support the development of sustainability in the surrounding community. Don’t overlook what the academics can offer your green team and employees.  Each year, more and more institutions of higher learning are amping up their green credentials, including their campuses and curricula, and partnering with businesses and community organizations on sustainability programs. Here’s a link to ULSF’s membership roster with links to a college or university near you. 

In future articles, I'll continue to write about upcoming events in the US and around the world that focus on sustainability.