The exhibition of inventions serving for climate protection, unique on a world scale, which was a side event of the United Nations Conference on Climate Change, ended on 14 December 20008 in Poznań. In the course of 2 weeks it was visited by more than 30,000 persons.

The Poznań exhibition presented a combination of advanced, modern technologies for the protection of the natural environment and quite simple solutions as well as suggestions which would be useful for the all the visitors. In addition to complicated equipment and machines, it was also possible to see technologies which do not require large financial outlays; thus, they would be affordable for the populations of the developing countries. Information was also provided on the opportunities for energy savings in households.

Among the inventions present at the exhibition, large popularity was enjoyed by the simulator of eco-driving, which allowed the visitors to check how much petrol they burnt in the course of ordinary driving. In addition, all drivers could listen to suggestions concerning economical driving. “Every day many people queued up to use the simulator. It was only on the last day that I managed to check my abilities. My result was 4.6 l/100 km, but the record holder used slightly more than 2.5 l,” says Agata Goździk, the Curator of the Exhibition.

Another exhibit of interest not only for the youngest visitors was the dancing floor where the dancers themselves produced electricity needed to light it and ensure the music. In the course of an official opening of the exhibition, it was Prof. Maciej Nowicki, the Minister of the Environment, who danced there.

The visitors stopped at the model of Masdar City – the first waste-less city with zero carbon dioxide emissions in the world, which is expected to be built in the Arab Emirates. Its model was one of the items at the exhibition of which the largest number of photographs were taken.

Moreover, the exhibition presented a large number of exotic inventions which were typical only of specific regions of the world. The most interesting ones included e.g. the hanging gardens of Bangladesh, the fog catchers used on Capo Verde Islands, which make it possible to acquire water from the atmosphere, or the solar Internet café from Gambia.

Polish accents were also present at the exhibition. One of them was a straw briquette-maker as presented by a Poznań company. The visitors received souvenir briquettes produced on the spot. “We used more than 5 tonnes of straw to produce briquettes for the visitors to the exhibition,” says Roman Długi, the Director of Asket Company.

The Poznań exhibition consisted of 120 most important and most original items of equipment and installations, which were presented in five thematic groups: energy saving, renewable energy sources, environmentally friendly transport, adaptation to climate change and various projects. Its additional attraction for all the visitors was the interactive nature of the exhibition, which made it possible for them to try many inventions.

In addition to the display of the state of the art equipment and technologies serving for climate protection, the exhibition was also accompanied by numerous presentations and scientific workshops conducted by institutions and companies. The visitors had an opportunity to take part in 25 presentations and a debate on environmentally friendly road transport and cheer for the secondary school teams which fought for a cup in the Tournament of Self-made Water Machine.

Every day the exhibition was visited by almost 2,500 persons. “Organised groups which came to us were provided with a guide. We estimate that a total of more than 30,000 persons have visited our exhibition,” says Goździk. The exhibition was visited e.g. by Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Vice Prime Minister Waldemar Pawlak, Ms. Jacqueline Cramer, the Minister of the Environment of the Netherlands, and Mr. Ichiro Kamoshita, the Minister of the Environment of Japan.

The exhibition “Technologies for Climate Protection” was open to all those who wanted to see it on 1- 14 December, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The admittance to the exhibition was free of charge.

The list of all exhibits with information: download here.