Carbon Market Expo was hosted by Australia's leading industry associations representing carbon market participants and clean tech industries - the Australasian Emissions Trading Forum (AETF) and Environment Business Australia (EBA)
The event was attended by 94 exhibitors and about 1200 delegates from 26 countries.
The Carbon Market Expo promoted Gold Coast and Australian capabilities to a national and international audience, and clearly articulated the export and other opportunities available to Australian businesses, especially in providing technology and services in developing countries.
Two core messages that emerged from Carbon Market Expo.
First, there is commercial opportunity in tackling climate change and Australia could be on the cusp of a new era of prosperity and job creation. This reinforced Treasury's findings that there are major market and industry development opportunities in tackling climate change.
Second and one of serious concern to bankers, investors, infrastructure developers, technology companies, and energy companies, is that scaling up clean-tech and clean energy projects in the very near term is vital and finance flows must not be hindered.
Carbon Expo also showcased the opportunities that exist for the Gold Coast to become a hub of activity providing climate change and clean technology products and services, particularly for export to China and other parts of Asia. There is great potential for the Gold Coast to create long term international projects and partnerships in "clean" projects and infrastructure.
Queensland Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation, Andrew McNamara, said the event's success had been "beyond wildest expectations" and confirmed Queensland Government involvement in 2009 when Carbon Expo is proposed to be held on the Gold Coast again.