Welcome to the World Environment Day 2023 Symposium: #OfficiallyGreen!

As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of World Environment Day, we invite you to join us for a virtual symposium that brings together experts, policymakers, and the public to discuss and address the pressing issue of plastic pollution and promote green initiatives. This year's World Environment Day theme, #OfficiallyGreen, emphasizes the importance of committing to being environmentally conscious and taking official steps to #BeatPlasticPollution.

The Green Institute is honored to host this year's World Environment Day Virtual Symposium, featuring a keynote speaker, panel sessions, and presentations of papers submitted by participants. Our focus areas for this year's symposium include Education, Environment, Energy, Equity, and Economics. Under these focus areas, we will delve into sub-themes such as environmental education in schools, renewable energy sources and technologies, environmental justice and social inclusion, climate change and sustainability economics, and innovative solutions to plastic pollution (#BeatPlasticPollution).

By bringing together individuals and organizations from diverse backgrounds and perspectives, we aim to create a more inclusive and effective conversation around environmental issues and find sustainable solutions to protect our planet. Join us in celebrating World Environment Day 2023 and #OfficiallyGoGreen!

Don't miss this opportunity to be a part of this exciting virtual event. Register now to secure your spot. If you have any questions, please reach out to us at hello@greeninstitute.ng

Let's take official steps towards a sustainable future—#OfficiallyGreen.

Ian Thomson

Director, The Centre for Responsible Business, University of Birmingham, United Kingdom.

Rosalind Malcolm

Professor of Law, Director of Environmental Regulatory Research Group (ERRG), University of Surrey, United Kingdom.

Carlos Drews

Executive Vice-President for Conservation, Ocean Wise, Canada.

Phoebe Koundouri

Director, Research Laboratory on Socio-Economic and Environmental Sustainability, Athens University of Economics and Business, Greece.

Anita Otubu

Senior Director, Sustainable Energy for All, United States.

Sian Sutherland

Co-founder, A Plastic Planet, United Kingdom.

Peter Kíladéjo

Artist/Lecturer, Obafemi Awolowo University (Adeyemi College of Education), Nigeria.

Susan Gardner

Director, Ecosystems Division,
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Kenya.

Oguge Nicholas Otienoh

Director, the Centre for Advanced Studies in Environmental Law and Policy, University of Nairobi, Kenya.

Emma Camp

Team Leader of the Future Reefs Team (FRT), University of Technology Sydney, Australia.

Varun Varghese

Assistant Professor, Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Hiroshima University, Japan.

Mikki-Mccomb-Kobza

Co-founder & Executive Director, Ocean First Institute, United States.

Achenyo Idachaba-Obaro

Founder, Mitimeth, Nigeria.

Mumbi Macharia

Spoken-Word Poet and Writer, Kenya.

Benjamin K. Sovacool

Professor, College of Arts & Sciences, University Institute for Global Sustainability (IGS), Boston University, United States.

Helen Onyeaka

Associate Professor, School of Chemical Engineering, University of Birmingham, United Kingdom.

Louis Meuleman

Co-founder and Director, Public Strategy for Sustainable Development (ps4sd), Belgium.

Rolph Payet

Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, Executive Secretary, The Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions, Switzerland.

Benjamin Damoah

Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Walter Sisulu University, South Africa.

Mariam Lawani

Founder, GreenHill Recycling, Nigeria.

Oliver Nudds

Managing Director, Ocean Plastic Technologies, South Africa.


MODERATORS

Pedi Obani

Associate Professor, School of Law, University of Bradford, United Kingdom.

Charles Anusim

Founder - Serene Greenfields, Nigeria.

Oluwatomi Abraham

Leadership Development Manager
Teach For Nigeria, Nigeria.

Jason McSparren

Vice-President, Research and Grant Writing, Green Institute, United States.

Odunayo Aliu

Founder & Director, Bramble Network, Nigeria.

Ntsapho Madyibi

Founder, Entrepreneurs Development Forum, South Africa

Kehinde Adenegan

Principal Lecturer, Obafemi Awolowo University (Adeyemi College of Education), Nigeria.

Dinah Awino

Post Graduate Researcher, Kenyatta University, Kenya.

This year's celebration promises to be a unique and exciting experience for all attendees. In addition to the keynote speakers and other distinguished professionals, participants will have the opportunity to present their research on the following sub-themes:

Sub-Themes

Education:

  • Environmental Education in Schools

  • Climate Change Awareness and Education

  • Plastic Pollution Prevention Education

  • Environmental Education for Sustainable Development

Environment:

  • Biodiversity Conservation and Protection

  • Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation

  • Plastic Pollution Reduction and Management

  • Sustainable Land and Resource Management

Energy:

  • Renewable Energy Sources and Technologies

  • Energy Efficiency and Conservation

  • Energy Access and Equity

  • Green Energy Solutions to Plastic Pollution

Equity:

  • Environmental Justice and Social Inclusion

  • Climate Justice and Human Rights

  • Environmental Health and Equity

  • Addressing Plastic Pollution Disproportionately Affecting Marginalized Communities

Economics:

  • Green Economy and Sustainable Development

  • Environmental Economics and Market-Based Approaches to Plastic Pollution Reduction

  • The Economics of Climate Change and Sustainability

  • Cost-Benefit Analysis of Plastic Pollution Mitigation Strategies.

The conference is free to attend. However, authors are required to pay a registration fee per participant to present their papers.

Participants (No Presentation): Free

Authors (Presentation): $75

The virtual conference is partitioned into minimum of five (5) distinct sessions with three keynote speakers at the joint opening conference and minimum of ten presenters for each parallel session. Each session is scheduled to last for a duration of 2 hours. A moderator would be assigned for each session.

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

The keynote speakers are allotted a time frame of 30 minutes. The keynote speakers are expected to speak for 20 minutes, the remaining time space of 10 minutes will be reserved for questions and answers from the participants.

PRESENTERS

Each presenter would give their presentation for 12 minutes. Embedded within those time limits are opportunities for questions and answers.
The presenters would present for 10 minutes. Therefore, the remaining time space of 2 minutes will be reserved for questions and answers.  

MEDIUM

Presenters would be given a link to join their designated virtual sessions through zoom. Every participant would be given access to watch the Keynote speakers live while the general sessions will be live streamed for non-participants to watch the live event. Please ensure that you have a working mic and webcam on your computer or mobile device. Other details about presentation will be sent to registered participants in due course. For technical assistance, click here.

Together we can act #ForNature

Take Action

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Take the Green Pledge

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Become a Campus Rep

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Contribute towards our sustainability effort

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Become an Ambassador

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Join or Start a Plogging Group

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Start a Green Kids Club

    • Dr. Adenike A. Akinsemolu and Dr. Pedi Obani- 10:00 am -10:10 am

    • 12:30 pm - 12:50 pm: Equity, Energy, and Just Transitions I Prof. Benjamin K. Sovacool

    • 12:50 pm - 1:05 pm-Environmental Sustainability or Equity in welfare? Analysing Passenger Flows of a Mass Rapid Transit System with Heterogeneous Demand I Dr. Varun Varghese

    • 1:05 pm-1:20 pm: Energy Finance and Enabling Environments I Ms. Anita Otubu

    • 1:20 pm - 1:35 pm: Power of Waste I Mariam Lawani

    • 1:35 pm - 1:50 pm: Man and Nature-An Artistic PerspectiveI Peter Kiladejo

    • 1:50 pm - 2:05 pm: ENABLING micro recycling that benefits communities and creates Entrepreneurs I Oliver Nodds

    • 3:15 pm - 3:35 pm: Ocean-positive Solutions to Climate Change and the Biodiversity Crisis I Prof. Carlos Drew

    • 3:35 pm - 3:50 pm: Microorganisms for Sustainable Agricultural Production, Environmental Conservation, Reduced Land Use, and Food Security I Dr. Helen Onyeaka

    • 3:50 pm-4:05 pm: Plastic Pollution Education in Action! Field Research & Solutions I Dr. Mikki McComb-Kobza

    • 4:05 pm - 4:20 pm: Determinants of Effective Environmental Education Policy in South African Schools I Dr. Benjamin Damoah

One of the most effective ways of creating change is by spreading awareness and inspiring others to join the cause. 

The #OfficiallyGreen Movement is a global initiative that mobilizes millions of people to demonstrate their concern for our planet by adopting a greener lifestyle.

Join us in the #OfficiallyGreen campaign and help us #BeatPlasticPollution.

Add your voice to this global movement. Here's what you can do:

  1. Make your #OfficiallyGreen placard using recycled paper, cloth, or other recyclable material.

  2. Take a picture with the placard, upload it to our page #OfficiallyGreen page and/or share it on your social media channels.

  3. Tag us @thegreenHQ and use the hashtags #OfficiallyGreen #BeatPlasticPollution #WED2023.

  4. Share what you are doing in your community to reduce plastic waste. Let's show the world how we can make a difference together!

Your simple act of creativity and commitment to reducing plastic pollution can inspire others to do the same. Together, we can create a chain reaction of positive change and significantly impact our planet.

This World Environment Day and beyond, let's show the world that we are #OfficiallyGreen.

Together, we can make a difference.

To request a press credential or for partnership, email Kate Kifa at hello@officiallygreen.org with “Press Credential Request or Partnership Request” in the Subject line


PARTNERS