“Low-carbon economies present multiple benefits to ecosystem resilience, trade, employment, health, energy security, and industrial competitiveness.”
This is the view of Parkes Shire Councillor, farmer and climate action advocate Neil Westcott as Parkes prepare to host an online forum with a focus on Activating the Low Carbon Economy in Regional Australia on Thursday, 19th August.
Local businesses, farmers and community members are encouraged to attend and learn more about this developing industry and its opportunities.
The one-day forum will bring together key local and regional stakeholders to collaborate, share ideas and explore how the low carbon economy is being activated to spur innovation in regional Australia.
Speakers will discuss issues and case studies that demonstrate how regional industries (including agriculture) can benefit from a low carbon economy.
“Parkes Shire Council is committed to supporting the development of a low carbon economy in Regional NSW and is excited by the opportunities arising for local businesses and our regional community from the Special Activation Precinct (SAP),” said Neil.
Topics will include the role and impact of renewable energy in the regions, the nature and benefits of a circular economy and what this means, the importance of a low carbon economy to regional and rural Australia, and how all of these will combine to embrace new industries and create local employment in Parkes and accelerate the transition to a prosperous low carbon future.
“Parkes is already one of the biggest and earliest adopters of rooftop solar, a founding member of the Climate Council’s Cities Power Partnership and is advocating for future local development to be responsible and sustainable,” said Neil.
The SAP will be a ‘green’ place to do business with targets set by the NSW Government for Parkes to become Australia’s first eco-industrial precinct built on the UNIDO (United Nations Industrial Development Organisation) framework.
“This changing world presents not just challenges, but significant opportunity, particularly for regional and rural areas. We are part of the answer. It’s not about the present, it’s about the future. We have got so much to gain out of being proactive,” said Neil.
Given the current COVID-19 outbreak in NSW, the forum has to be delivered online. Tickets are available for $30. For further information and tickets, visit https://www.parkes.nsw.gov.au/low-carbon-economy-forum.