Top international figures are supporting a major conference in Bradford next month which will help hundreds of firms become more environmentally-friendly.

President Clinton, European Union Commissioner Neil Kinnock, Environment Minister Michael Meacher and Industry Minister John Battle have given their support for the Trans-Atlantic Environmental Conference in the city on November 10 and 11.

More than 300 people are expected to attend the conference from the UK and abroad.

The conference has also attracted representatives from the European Commission and the Danish, Austrian, French and Irish governments and local experts.

It will be held at the Cedar Court Hotel in Bradford and is part of the Trans-Atlantic Business Dialogue which is backed by the European Union and the US Government.

The conference will feature four key ways to improve environmental performance. They are:

Greening the supply chain - being environmentally friendly.

Eco-design and producer responsibility.

Risk and environmental management.

Environmental performance management and accounting.

The event is being organised by Keighley Business Forum and is supported by Yorkshire Water, BT, The Environment Agency, Willis Corroon, Eversheds and the Arkansas Environmental Federation.

Speakers include John Battle, Jeremy Walker, the director of the region's Government office, Dr Kevin Bond, chief executive of Yorkshire Water, Roger Hyde, the Environment Agency's regional manager, and Paul Smith, head of environmental law at Eversheds.

Lesley Ord, of Keighley Business Forum, said: "We have previously organised two environmental conferences in Ilkley which were very successful in the last two years, but this one is our biggest yet."

For further information on the conference contact Lesley Ord at Keighley Business Forum on (01535) 671870

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