GLENCOE, Ill., May 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Thought leaders from government, corporations, and non-profit organizations will gather at the Chicago Botanic Garden on June 5th as part of the Garden's first International Climate Change Forum, a day-long long examination of issues relating to climate change and global warming that is part of the United Nations Environment Programme's World Environment Day celebration.

Highlights of the day include presentations by Dr. Ashok Khosla, the former chairman of the United Nations Environment Programme and recipient of the 2002 Sasakawa Environment Prize; and Fred Krupp, president of the Environmental Defense Fund, and author of Earth: the Sequel. Others speaking at the event include:

-- Amy Fraenkel, Deputy Director of the United Nations World Environment Programme, who will present, for the first time, key findings from "Kick the Habit- The UN Guide to Climate Neutrality," an international report on achieving world-wide carbon neutrality.

-- Suzanne-Malec McKenna, Commissioner for the Department of the Environment for the City of Chicago.

-- Mary Gade, Region 5 Administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

-- Demetria Giannisis, President & CEO of the Chicago Manufacturing Center, the Green Plants Initiative and Great Lakes Partnership.

-- John W.Rowe, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Exelon Corporation.

-- Arthur J. Gibson, Vice President of Environment, Health & Safety for Baxter International.

-- Andrew Armishaw, Chief Technology and Services Officer for
HSBC- North America.

Dr. Ashok Khosla was a leading member of the team at Harvard University that designed and taught the first undergraduate course on the environment. He was the founding director of the government of India's Office of Environmental Planning and Coordination, the first national environmental agency in a developing country and pioneered the design and implementation of the basic systems and structures needed to integrate environmental considerations into the process of a developing nation's economy. Today, Dr. Khosla heads up Development Alternatives Group, a leading environmental agency in India. He is recognized worldwide as a leader in sustainable development of emerging economies.

Fred Krupp helped develop market-based solutions such as the acid rain reduction plan included in the 1990 Clean Air Act. The Environmental Defense Fund is a national nonprofit organization that links science, law and innovative private-sector partnerships to create solutions to the most serious environmental programs. Krupp was a founding member of the United States Climate Action Partnership, a coalition of leading corporations and environment organizations supporting mandatory limits in the United States of global warming pollution.

World Environment Day was established by the UN General Assembly in 1972 to mark the June 5 opening of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment. Another resolution, adopted by the General Assembly the same day, led to the creation of the United Nations Environment Programme.

Other activities at the Chicago Botanic Garden on June 5th will include the Action and Knowledge Marketplace, featuring over thirty non-profit, academic, cultural and environmental organizations, held from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on the Esplanade at the Chicago Botanic Garden.

Visitors will find helpful displays and knowledgeable representatives discussing products for green homes, resources to locate carpools, volunteer and community conservation programs, classes on green gardening, sources for energy efficient appliances, vehicles that run on used vegetable oil and a solar powered popcorn maker.

Entries from the North American International Children's Painting Competition, sponsored by Bayer Corporation, will be on exhibit throughout June at the greenhouse galleries, located in the Regenstein Center at the Chicago Botanic Garden. More than 700 entries were received from which the first and second place North American winners were selected. Chicago-area and North American winners will be featured.

The International Children's Painting Competition, the Knowledge and Action Marketplace, the International Climate Change Forum, a Farmer's Market of organically grown produce, and more are all part of the Save the Plants/Save the Planet Week at the Garden, June 1 through 8.

World Environment Day is sponsored by PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP, Baxter International, HSBC-North American and Exelon Corporation.

The Chicago Botanic Garden, one of the green treasures of the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, is a 385-acre living plant museum featuring 23 distinct display gardens surrounded by lakes, as well as a prairie and woodlands. With events, programs and activities for all ages, the Garden is open every day of the year, except Dec. 25. Admission is free; select event fees apply. Parking is $15; free for members. On Tuesdays, senior citizens age 62 and older pay just $7 for parking. The Garden is located at 1000 Lake Cook Road in Glencoe, Ill. Visit http://www.chicagobotanic.org, or call (847) 835-5440 for seasonal hours, images of the Garden and commuter transportation information. The Chicago Botanic Garden is managed by the Chicago Horticultural Society. It opened to the public in 1972 and is home to the Joseph Regenstein, Jr. School of the Chicago Botanic Garden, offering a broad array of adult classes in plant science, landscape design and gardening arts. Through the Division of Plant Science and Conservation, Garden scientists work on plant conservation, research and environmental initiatives that have global impact. The Center for Teaching and Learning brings the wonder of nature and plants to children, teens and teachers. The Garden's Horticultural Therapy and Community Gardening programs provide nationally recognized community outreach and service programs. The Garden is also breaking new ground in urban horticulture and jobs training through a 15-acre project in the North Lawndale neighborhood of Chicago called Windy City Harvest. The Chicago Botanic Garden is accredited by the American Association of Museums and is a member of the American Public Gardens Association (APGA). In 2006, the Chicago Botanic Garden received the Award for Garden Excellence, given yearly by the APGA and Horticulture magazine to a public garden that exemplifies the highest standards of horticultural practices and has shown a commitment to supporting and demonstrating best gardening practices.

Chicago Botanical Gardens

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