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Northern Way summit goes carbon neutral

A major conference, set to take place in North East England next week, will not only be working to improve the economic prosperity of the North but will be aiding the environment and local people at the same time.

Preparations are now in full swing for the Northern Way Summit 07, which is expected to attract up to 400 regeneration specialists to The Sage Gateshead on November 27 to discuss the economic renaissance of the North of England.

And to ensure the conference does not come at a cost to the environment, the Northern Way event organisers have worked in partnership with NewcastleGateshead Convention Bureau and local charity CarbonNeutral North East to reduce the carbon footprint left by the visitors.

A contribution will be made to the charity following the summit to offset the remaining carbon emissions of the event. This will fund insulation schemes in the North East, helping local people as well as protecting the environment.

Delegates are also being encouraged to leave their cars at home and use more environmentally modes of transport during the summit. Half of those signed up have already opted to take up the NewcastleGateshead Conference Travel Card offered by organisers to provide free unlimited travel in Tyne and Wear using the Metro and Yellow QuayLink buses.

Andrew Lewis, director at the Northern Way, said: “We have highlighted our commitment to the environment by ensuring this important conference is carbon neutral. The North East is one of the UK’s most exciting conference destinations and through our free travel passes we can encourage delegates to make the most of their visit without harming the environment.”

Jessica Roberts, head of business tourism at NewcastleGateshead Convention Bureau, said:Â “NewcastleGateshead is a vibrant and exciting business destination with a lot to offer conference organisers and delegates. By taking advantage of our CarbonNeutral services, conference organisers are not only doing their bit and leaving a legacy by supporting local charity initiatives, they are also preserving the local environment for others to enjoy in years to come.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .