Green Environment Events 2017

A selective list of green urban environment, healthy water, air quality, biodiversity, nature conservation and climate change events:

7-9 March
Ecobuild
Focus: Sustainability in Building
Excel
London

8 March 6.30-8.30pm

Bristol Viewpoints: Waste Water and Water Waste

1^st in series of 3 free talks on water research

Bristol Natural History Consortium

Watershed

Bristol

13 March 6.30-8.30pm

Bath Viewpoints: How Water Shaped Bath

2^nd in series of 3 free talks on problems and solutions for waterways

Bristol Natural History Consortium

Bath Guildhall, Bath

13 March-31st March
Air Quality and Hydrogen Exhibition
City Hall
London

20 March 6pm

Placemaking and Planting

Kew Mutual Improvement Society Lecture

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

23 March 6.3—8.30pm

Keynsham Viewpoints: Healthy Water

3^rd in series of free talks on water research

Bristol Natural History Consortium

Keynsham Community Space

Bristol

28-30 March

Flood and Coast 2017

Theme: Risk, Resilience and Response in a Changing Climate

Telford International Centre

UK

Preview

30 March 8.30am-2pm
Low Emission freight logistics: all you need to know
ARUP Offices
London

13 April-15 October

IGA Berlin 2017

International Garden Design and Green Urban Lifestyle Exhibition

Berlin

Germany

Twitter: #IGABerlin

15-26 May 9am-5.30pm

Tropical Plant Identification Course

For conservation & environment professionals, graduate ethnobotanists, ecologists and zoologists

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

25-26 May

State of the World’s Plants Symposium 2017

Special Focus on Madagascar

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

8-25 June

Festival of Nature

Bristol Natural History Consortium

Bristol

Twitter: @festofnature

NB: Inclusion in this list does not constitute endorsement of any conference, event or third party. This list is for information purposes only. All details should be checked on the organisers' websites, as they may be subject to change.

Karen Andrews is a freelance French to English translator, transcreator, content writer and editor. She has a strong background in global marketing.

Email Karen for further information via karenanglicityen@gmail.com in French, German or English.

Spring Air in Paris

Spring colour in the Marché aux Fleurs, Place Louis Lépine

The third day of my recent Paris trip was officially the first day of Spring. The Marché aux Fleurs (Flower Market) in Place Louis Lépine was filled with spring colour and greenery. Paris will be hosting COP21 in the battle against climate change in 2015. Air quality was poor during my stay. French TV claimed it was worse than Shanghai.

On my first morning, the Eiffel Tower was obscured by mist and murk. At the weekend, travelling by Metro was free to encourage Parisians to use public transport instead of their cars.

Paris owes much to Baron Haussmann for its wide, "airy" streets. British cities simply cannot replicate his urban planning . Today, such an autocratic approach will not be tolerated. British cities also have much heritage to preserve and cannot emulate Paris despite inner-city congestion problems.

Boulevard Haussmann in Paris

The Recession seems to have left Paris with a backlog of maintenance repairs, but the solid infrastructure must leave many cities envious. Wherever I went, traffic seemed to move without too much difficulty - even during the rush hour. Accustomed to London congestion, I kept allowing too much time to get from A to B.  I couldn't help wondering if the wide streets were such a blessing if they made Parisians more inclined to drive into the capital.

I was very surprised by reports on French TV. Despite regulation, the French still smoke heavily in public places - and, French women are more likely to continue smoking in pregnancy. I have always understood the French to be very health-conscious.

I saw evidence of eco-friendly initiatives. Paris has its equivalent of London's "Boris bikes". I saw row upon row of them - all largely unused. Maybe because of the high pollution rates during my stay? I also saw electric cars being charged in the streets. Again, I was disappointed not to see one in use. 

Autolib' electric car sharing scheme in Paris

At the Centre Georges Pompidou, I saw an artwork by the British-born and New Zealand-based David Trubridge. It was an orange sphere representing the sun with white wings to either side. Trubridge used natural, sustainable and recyclable materials.

The work hangs above visitors' heads as a poetic reminder of the dangers of climate change. David Trubridge was inspired by both Maori legend and Greek myth. Like Icarus, Man is flying too close to the Sun. It seems an appropriate warning in the host city for COP21 - especially just after the solar eclipse.

If you would appreciate help with your technical marketing communications, email karen@anglicity.com or call Karen on +44 (0)20 8581 9369.

Karen Andrews runs
Anglicity Ltd. She is a

technical writer and 

translator with over

15 years' marketing

experience. Anglicity offers

marketing consultancy and

content marketing with a 

particular focus on innovation

and the environment.