Conference theme: Sustainable Networking

The conference this year will be focused around the theme of “Sustainable Networking” – a growing issue for all member countries and one the APAN community needs to understand its role in supporting. This has three elements:

Environmental sustainability: collaboration tools on advanced networks can substitute personal travel, meaning lower carbon emissions. In line with the New Zealand government's key goals, this conference will aim to be operated on a carbon neutral basis and will encourage all participants to do the same.

Regional sustainability: the prosperity of the region, and of New Zealand within the region, is intimately tied to increasing research, education, economic and cultural cooperation and exchange.

Operational sustainability: only by working as an integrated community across geographic boundaries can such networks deliver maximum value to their users, developers and investors.

Sustainability statement

REANNZ is taking responsible action towards environmental sustainability while hosting the APAN26 Sustainable Networking conference. We are aiming to strike a balance between excessive resource usage and providing delegates with the information and experience they require.

REANNZ’s sustainability strategies

REANNZ's role is to bring New Zealand presenters to APAN26; we will measure, manage and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions related to bringing these presenters to the meeting using the calculators provided by the internationally recognised CarboNZero scheme. Omissions will be offset by supporting one of the following projects – forest regeneration, landfill gas conversion to energy, or wind power projects.

We are also working to conserve resources through making sustainable choices in registration mechanisms, conference materials, communications, logistics, food and beverage and transport.

What delegates can do for sustainability

To all delegates, we encourage you to undertake the same approach to measure and offset your own carbon footprint for APAN26. You can achieve this using the CarboNZero calculator at http://www.carbonzero.co.nz/EmissionsCalc/tourismeditor.aspx. We will recognise your participation as a “Carbon Neutral Delegate”.

Just bring your CaroNZero certificate to the conference and we will stamp your nametag with your zero footprint status!

Updated 27 June 2008