OREANDA-NEWS. April 17, 2014. Mark your calendars for the seventh annual Airports Going Green Conference on November 3-5, 2014.  The conference will be held at the Westin River North in downtown Chicago.  The sustainability achievements at O'Hare International Airport will be showcased in an airfield tour held on November 5th, the final day of the conference.

Airports Going Green is hosted by the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) and the  American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE), and is the airport industry's leading sustainability forum.  Airports Going Green has been uniting aviation sustainability leaders, experts and innovators from around the world for the past six years.  Please join us in sharing sustainability ideas, best practices and lessons learned with airports, airlines, the FAA, concessionaires, and consultants. 

Airports Going Green set another consecutive attendance record in in 2013, attracting nearly 400 attendees and featuring more than 15 innovative exhibitors.  Highlights of last year's conference included:

A welcome from Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel;

A personalized video address from Former Vice President Al Gore;

Guest speakers from more than 20 airports across the U.S.;

International visitors from London Heathrow; Amsterdam Schiphol; Incheon Airport in Seoul, South Korea; China; El Salvador Toronto; and Montreal;

Input from the FAA on their latest sustainability initiatives and guidance for airports;

A session on how airports can adapt to the impacts of climate change;

An overview of major airline and tenant sustainability programs; Discussion led by national and international airport CEOs; and

An airfield tour of O'Hare's sustainability achievements including a visit to see the O'Hare grazing herd, green roofs, and a reception at the aeroponic garden.

The launch of the Airports Going Green Sustainability Education Fund, which advances student education in sustainability-related fields through scholarships in the Chicago area;

Airports Going Green sessions will qualify for Continuing Education (CE) hours to maintain American Institute of Architects (AIA) and USGBC LEED accreditation.  Stay tuned for updates on registration, speakers, sponsorship, and exhibitor opportunities by signing up for CDA web alerts at www.flychicago.com and by visiting www.airportsgoinggreen.org.