The fourth Green Expo is taking place this year in Chester with preparations under way for the Awards Dinner on November 20.
Green Expo is gathering information for a manifesto of questions, concerns and pledges from organisations and individuals to be submitted for the Global climate change conference, COP 30.
At the last Green Expo Awards Dinner responses were given to three questions: ‘What action and delivery do you want from COP (Conference of the Parties)?’ ‘These are the issues I face’, and ‘In return, I pledge to do this …’ (Responses below.)
Jane Harrad-Roberts, Project Director for Green Expo and recently featured as an ‘ESG Champion’ in Insider Magazine said; “We are asking anyone interested in green issues to add in their questions, concerns and pledges to the survey for us to send to UK participants at COP30.”
“This year we want to be more inclusive and open up the opportunity to respond to everyone, over a longer period, so we can collate a firm message from the North West on climate issues. We want Chester’s Green Expo 2025 to send an even stronger message to world leaders.”
She added; “COP29 was called the ‘Finance COP’ due to its strong emphasis on climate finance and carbon markets. It was disappointing on its lack of stronger commitments and concrete plans.
“COP30 is pivotal for global climate governance, ten years on from the Paris Agreement. It is designed to shift from negotiation to implementation and accountability, and will include a call on governments to speed up the transition away from fossil fuels to renewables such as wind and solar power in their next round of climate commitments, let’s see!”
Have your say to change our region’s response on climate change by completing the 3-question survey here: The Green Expo COP30 Survey
COP30 (conference of the Parties) is to be held in Brazil 11-22 November 2025. COP29 was the biggest of its kind. Some 70,000 participants, including more than 100 Heads of State and Government, were among the representatives of national delegations, civil society, business, Indigenous Peoples, youth, philanthropy, and international organisations in attendance at the Conference. It will promote Cross-Sectoral Solutions.
COP30 will focus on six thematic pillars: Energy, Industry & Transport, Forests, Oceans & Biodiversity, Agriculture & Food Systems, Cities, Infrastructure & Water, Human & Social Development and Finance, Technology & Capacity Building.
It will have Thematic Days to connect negotiations with real-world impact. Topics include: Adaptation, Circular Economy, AI, Bioeconomy, Health, Education, Justice, Human Rights, Energy, Finance, Carbon Markets, and Non-CO₂ gases. More info at https://cop30.br/
Green Expo 2025 inspires attendees to focus on what North West England and North Wales’ carbon neutral future look like. Local, national, and international organisations showcase how they are achieving their plans as they move towards net zero.
According to the Green Skills Taskforce 2021 report over 30,000 new jobs will be created in the North West by 2050 to get the UK to NetZero, and according to Net Zero North West this will sustain up to 650,000 jobs, the largest number of all the UK regions.
At the last Green Expo Awards Dinner responses were given to three questions: ‘What action and delivery do you want from COP (Conference of the Parties)?’ ‘These are the issues I face’, and ‘In return, we pledge to do this …’
Responses sought a far stronger commitment from world leaders on the following: ‘rewild at scale and at pace’, ‘protect the oceans’, ‘replace industrial agriculture with regenerative agriculture’, ‘reduce the use of carbon-based fuels’ ‘increase investment in renewables’, ‘contribute firm amounts to the global climate emergency fund’ and ‘implement carbon taxes for the wealthy’.
Responses encouraged investment and research into alternative energy sources: ‘Hydro Power from rivers and ocean currents. (River hydro power powered the 1st global Industrial Revolution. The same rivers are still flowing, use them!)’, ‘The aviation industry must demonstrate its reduction in carbon footprint’, ‘More global agreement on water quality standards’ and ‘Focus on the actions, not just talking about wish lists’.
Respondents said they were facing: ‘Pressures on small companies, with challenging market conditions and internal factors limiting time and money to invest in ‘Green’ activities.’ ‘A lack in public transport infrastructure means we use the car more than we would like.’ ‘We would like simpler access to grants to support innovation.’ ‘Rising travel costs as “greener” options are significantly more expensive than damaging forms of travel’. ‘Lack of true “Seed Funding” for practical solutions. Big investment is being diverted to, and controlled by, already wealthy energy companies.’ ‘Frustration with changing and inadequate UK government energy policy.’
In return, respondents pledged to: ‘Commit to reducing carbon in our organisation by 20%.’ ‘Continue to develop innovative solutions that enable corporations to become more sustainable.’ ‘Increasingly work online and remotely.’ ‘Support Cheshire based Green Investment proposals and associated education and awareness campaigns & initiatives (eg Hydro Hub).’ ‘To continue to promote and educate societies to the awesome potential of generating clean, green energy from naturally moving water.’ ‘Use forms of travel wherever possible that have absolutely no environmental impact (cycling, walking).’