As I write, there's a massive Corporate Social Responsibility Summit going on in Sydney - see www.csrsummit.com . As a big supporter of CSR I'm glad that this kind of event is happening but I wonder if the conference venue, materials, food, transport options, accommodation meet many CSR standards. So often there is so much waste generated at big meetings - from the plastic throwaway plates to the overactive air-conditionning to the gimmicky plastic pens.

I've just read this excellent article on Grist about 'greening' conferences. Most of the references are USA-centric but it's good to know that people out there are changing the conference and exhibitions industry. See http://www.grist.org/biz/tp/2005/11/29/conferences/index.html