[OSGeo-Conf] Rfp 2020 questions - Sustainability

[Jeff McKenna]

Dear Jonathan,

We really appreciate your questions, and the FOSS4G-HFX team would like 
to briefly tackle them (below, in-line):

> 
> * Have you given any though to ensuring your conference is 
> sustainable\green\environmentally friendly?

Members of the FOSS4G-HFX team recently returned from FOSS4G events in 
Tanzania, as well as Brazil, and it is very interesting to us to see how 
different local committees from around the world handle sustainability 
and environmentally friendliness for an event (you can imagine the hosts 
of the FOSS4G-Brazil event being focused on this, as their agency is 
tasked with protecting the Amazon rainforest). We are compiling ideas 
and discussing ways to follow the lead of these events, and also make 
some changes/improvements. To answer the question directly: the 
FOSS4G-HFX team is committed to being environmentally friendly in every 
aspect of the event, throughout the whole lifecycle of the event.

> 
> * Does your venue have any sustainability initiatives\credentials etc?

The province of Nova Scotia produces the least waste per capita and has 
the highest waste diversion rate in Canada.  We are therefore very proud 
to show our many initiatives locally, starting with the brand new venue 
the Nova Centre, in the vibrant downtown of Halifax.  The venue has many 
initiatives, including:

- received highest standard of green for a building, a LEED Gold 
building (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)

- water bottle refill stations in each room and throughout venue	 	 	

- digital screens at entrance to each room (reducing generating physical 
signs)

- Use of a revolutionary Food Waste Disposal System: a self-contained, 
continual feed, organic waste disposal system designed to convert food 
waste into water.

- catered food has local menu items that are organic, fairly traded, 
seasonal and not processed, helping to reduce the carbon footprint and 
support our local economy

- Meals and snacks are presented on either porcelain or compostable 
dishware.

- venue regularly donates unused food items to the local food bank 
(we’ve already verified this with venue)

- but maybe pictures help more; back in June we had our walk-through of 
the new Nova Centre (also attended by the in-house A/V lead, so we got 
to ask many technical questions as well) 
https://photos.app.goo.gl/dgoNx9wmV3d2Q5ok7

> 
> * Does your host city have good public transport, including between the 
> venue/events/likely-accommodation/airport? (note: taxi's are not public 
> transport ;-) )

Great news is that just last year a new direct bus line, part of the 
Halifax transit system, was added from the international airport to 
downtown Halifax (to Scotia Square, which is literally beside the venue, 
and within walking distance to major hotels and hostels).  The bus only 
makes one stop on the way, and costs only 2.60 USD.  Locally it is 
called the “MetroX” airport bus.

The FOSS4G-HFX team have been discussing transportation for several 
months now, and we have several ideas to help the OSGeo family easily 
arrive and get settled.  We are famous in Canada for our maritime 
hospitality for a reason, and taking care to ensure a relaxing and 
stress-free arrival and departure and getting around, is part of who we 
are here.


> 
> * Is the host city reasonably reachable by something other than flying?
> 

We are excited and thrilled to outline other modes of transportation for 
the OSGeo family, hopefully in the full proposal stage.  We can answer 
now an enthusiastic YES.


Thank you again Jonathan.

-Karine & Jeff
FOSS4G-HFX 2020 co-chairs