Today the impacts of global warming are occurring at a faster rate than scientists anticipated and as a result, it is the most crucial public policy challenge facing communities around the world this decade.

Planners in the U.S. and abroad seeking to engage the public in responding to this critical issue are invited to attend the Engagement for Sustainable Communities and Climate Change Online Conference, scheduled for Wednesday, March 24 and Thursday, March 25. Registration is open to the public at http://engmt4sust.ning.com/. The conference presenting sponsor is Earthscan.

Sponsored by the American Planning Association's Public Engagement Interest Group and PublicDecisions, this conference showcases engagement ‘best practices' today in support of sustainability, specifically engagement in support of:

a. Policymaking in support of sustainability (e.g., green building codes)
b. Revamping existing plans (such as the re-tooling of comprehensive plans or other land use plans in response to climate change)
c. The design or implementation of sustainability programs (for example, programs that create and monitor local sustainability indicators)
d. Community programs that address individual and/or community-wide sustainable behaviors (such as community-wide alternative energy programs).

The Earthscan Keynote Address will be given by Elizabeth Malone, author of the book "Debating Climate Change" (Earthscan, 2009). The program includes webinar presentations from an array of practitioners around the globe on engagement related to sustainability and climate change and tours of locations in the virtual world Second Life used for engagement purposes. Registration also includes participation in virtual networking sessions each day, where participants can informally network with one another about topics of common interest.

All sessions have been submitted for AICP continuing education credits from the American Institute for Certified Planners. Registration is $25 USD per session or $99 USD for the entire two-day conference. Full-time students/faculty members can register for $49 USD.

The American Planning Association's Public Engagement Interest Group (PEIG) recognizes that serving and engaging the public is one of the fundamental elements of the practice of planning and serves as the nexus between the practice of public engagement and planning in all its disciplines. The group promotes a robust practice of public engagement through the exchange of knowledge, best practices and professional networking. Learn more at http://engmt4sust.ning.com/.

PublicDecisions is the premiere provider of online, "live" training, professional development events and conferences on stakeholder engagement. Its international registrants include government and industry professionals in the planning, transportation and environmental sectors; community health workers and other health professionals; school administrators; librarians; and nonprofit/NGO leaders. PublicDecisions programs feature state-of-the-art best practices and leading-edge ideas for successfully engaging stakeholders today. Learn more at http://www.publicdecisions.com/index.html.

For more information, contact:
Christy McGetrick, PEIG Co-Chair, 501 455 8899 / [email protected]
Beth Offenbacker, PublicDecisions, 571 303 9208 / [email protected]

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