About
Greenfest was opened in 2008 by esteemed local indigenous dance troupe Nunukul Yuggera and international guest Dr Jane Goodall. With over 50 bands, 60 speakers, 150 commercial exhibitors, film, art and childrens activities, 35000 people met and exchanged ideas for a greener future.
Read an interview by Green Cross to see what Greenfest Founder, Colman Ridge, thinks.
Most of what we achieved was only possible due to our great volunteers from Brisbane's universities, if you would like to volunteer for 2009 please apply here.
Our financial model is to provide a free to the public event for maximum participation in low carbon economic development funded by our sponsors and exhibitors. There are two remaining sponsor opportunities to fund the long term structure plans, if you are interested apply here.
It is a new formula that places confidence in a community coming together for a cooler planet. We are a grassroots event that welcomes interaction, creative proposals and participation.
Our plans are to remain in Brisbane and grow a recognized green leadership event of global significance based in Brisbane. We invite all other positive events, festivals, chambers of commerce and towns to join Greenfest and share your passion for the quality and diversity of life on Earth.
There is an unprecedented alignment of environmental and economic opportunity. Greenfest aims to provide a human face to this opportunity and nurture confidence in individuals and communites to take action for change. For organizations it offers the perfect environment to research, test and promote new ideas. For musicians, film makers and the arts it offers the chance to strike the rhythms of a cooler planet. For audiences it offers a chance to participate and interact with other people who care about the future.
The festival is proud to join the voices of support for a greener future on World Environment Day. We also have made pledges of support to the Billion Tree Campaign, are listed as a UNEP Art for the Environment event and part of the UNEP Climate Neutral Network. Our climate strategy has three key elements; purpose, education and production:
1. Purpose: Accelerate the rate of change in consumer behaviour
The purpose of Greenfest is to create a dynamic gathering of new ideas from all industries, conservation groups, government and other community groups. This gathering provides the opportunity for individuals and networks to adjust towards and invent a greener future faster. It is a marketplace giving both producers and consumers a confident environment to interact and form new directions.
Greenfest provides a rich blend of music, food, fashion, film, art, comedy and more to socialize the changes and learn from each other. Running in and out with a brochure will not achieve much, staying and talking will.
In 2008 we attracted 157 exhibitors from all major consumer industries. Exhibitors and visitors were excited with the diversity of participation. The primary environmental impact of Greenfest is thousands of people leaving the festival believing they can work together for a cooler planet and are taking steps to do so. Our very function is to create a marketplace of change and facilitate capable self-selecting networks for environmental leadership.
2. Education: Throughout the event from exhibitors to speakers and film
Dr Jane Goodall is the patron of Greenfest education and we are proud to support her green education initiative Roots and Shoots, which local schools in Australia can join at any time.
We provide discounted exhibitor pricing for other organizations offering high quality educational content, free space to conservation groups focussed on education instead of memberships. There are workshops on "how to", speakers and films addressing key areas of impact, consult the program for full details. We commence the three day program on a Friday to provide access to schools.
For a general glossary of terms regarding global warming, click here. For a review of the Kyoto protocal click here. For an educational resource on global warming click here.
3. Production: Walking the talk in our own production
The festival also plans for it’s own production to be climate neutral through:
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Use of green power
- On site recycling and waste wise event
- Use of biodegradable plates and utensils for food
- Recycled printing
- Minimizing production beyond function
- Offsetting the reduced and measured impact of the festival to be a carbon neutral event
Greenfest Pty Ltd (ACN 125 745 913) is a privately owned independent Australian business with a constitution for non-profit. No exhibitor or sponsor owns shares in Greenfest Pty Ltd.
Greenfest, a place for fresh energy!
Greenfest friends: Jack Thompson, Dr Jane Goodall, Greenfest Owner Colman Ridge, Director Kim Kindersley, Publicist Annie Wright