Public Meeting - Friday 18 January 2008

How thinking about the climate crisis needs to change
Chaired by Emer O Siochru of Cap-and-Share Ireland

Speakers:

The problems

David Wasdell of the Meridian Programme
The pace at which climate change is already taking place has not been taken into account by politicians, policymakers and even the UN. Many feedback mechanisms have been ignored.

Richard Douthwaite of Feasta
Peak oil and climate change both mean that the use of fossil fuels has to be rationed in some way. Unless this is done, the income gap between those who can afford to use energy and those who can't will widen considerably. Millions will starve.

The solutions

Peter Barnes of the Sky Trust, USA
The benefits from and the responsibilities for the planet's limited resources should be shared by all humankind equally. There are two similar ways in which the benefits from using fossil fuels could be shared which might enable deep emissions cuts to be made with widespread public support.

Bruce Darrell of Feasta
Almost a quarter of greenhouse emissions comes from changes in land use. The incorporation of charcoal into the soil might enable millions of landowners to increase their crops while at the same time turning the land to be turned into a carbon sink rather than a source.

There will be time for questions and discussion after each speaker's presentation.

Conclusions and Close: Emer O Siochru

Venue: St. John's Church, Totnes, UK. 7.30pm to 9.30pm