Prince George is hosting the Canadian Bio-Economy Conference & Exhibition this week at the Wood Innovation and Design Centre and the PG Civic and Conference Centre.
The forum will see guests, both local and international, gather to share perspectives on energy and sustainability.
One international guest is Växjö, Sweden, Mayor Anna Tenje. Växjö is the greenest city in Europe and Tenje says Prince George could mirror what they’ve done to become one of the greenest cities in Canada.
“If you get the right advice and if you don’t have to [make previously made mistakes], it could be quite quick,” Tenje says of Prince George becoming more sustainable and eco-friendly.
PG Mayor Lyn Hall echoes this, acknowledging the similarities between the northern capital and Växjö such as forestry presents a unique learning opportunity.
“‘What are you doing now as a forestry dependent community that we may be able to take a look at?’ and that’s really what we and our staff are going to key in on when we have those conversations,” he explains.
“[Växjö] has been very innovative in its ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, very innovative in its ways of running district resource energy systems like we have here in Prince George.”
Forests are a major producer for Växjö when it comes to staying sustainable. Tenje says like communities, such as PG and others in northern BC, can make strides to better utilize resources.
“Take care of the whole tree, the branches, the bark, and the tops to do biomass, to make fabrics, to make biofuel, to make other things that are from a pipeline now.”
The exhibition runs until Friday. BC Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy George Heyman will also be in town to provide a keynote address.
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