A host of sustainability leaders from across Ireland are set to descend on Dublin next week for the National Sustainability Summit.

Taking place from 29-20 January at the Citywest Hotel, the event will welcome visitors to see the latest trends, innovations, best practice and new technological solutions available. It will address areas such as optimising water usage, renewable energy, sustainable packaging, waste minimisation and moving towards a circular economy, as well as highlighting how the power of data and technology can be harnessed to achieve more transparent supply chains.

Derry City and Strabane District Council Biodiversity Officer, Dr Christine Doherty will be one of the leading names to headline the conference.

Revealing more about her 'Rethinking Green Spaces' address, Dr Doherty said: "Transforming and valuing our local green spaces to benefit people, our economy and environment is a key priority for Derry City and Strabane District Council, which is outlined in our cutting edge Green Infrastructure Plan.

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"We are the first local authority in Northern Ireland to produce a Green Infrastructure Plan and associated action plan which highlights the significant positive health implications of spending time in green spaces, the critical role ecosystem services play for mitigating against climate change, as well as the potential opportunities they offer for businesses to create jobs locally, for example, through expanding our greenway network.

"We are currently in the process of assessing the monetary value of our green spaces through the creation of a Natural Capital Account in partnership with Vivid Economics and The Carnegie Trust.

"This pioneering research will show the benefits of living close to a park or green area, which increases the value of property as well as providing a community space for people to socialise and exercise.

"The results highlight that green areas provide significant mental and physical wellbeing value as well as recreational benefits and improvements to the air that we breathe."

Those interested in registering for the National Sustainability Summit can do so here.

(CM/MH)