Bio Economy Conference Underway

PRINCE GEORGE – The Canadian Bio-Economy Conference is taking place at the Civic Centre, looking at the challenges facing biodiversity. One of today’s keynote speakers had a message from across the Atlantic.

“We have shown that we have reduced our CO2 emissions by over 60 percent now and, at the same time, we have had economic growth of 33 – 34 percent,” says Anna Tenje, Mayor of Vaxjo, Sweden, who believes the environment and the economy can co-exist. “So, you can have positive economic growth at the same time as you are environmentally-friendly, as well.”

But it has not been all roses. She says the “hardest nut for us to crack” is transportation. Vaxjo, Sweden is a community of 90,000 and, much like Prince George, has both rural and urban populations. So it’s a matter of looking at options to get residents out of their vehicles. But she adds, it says a collective will.

“The first thing that you have to have is the will and the ability to make the decisions. And you have to be brave.”