Friday, 20 February 2015

Climate change @ Ecobuild >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> "England’s flood defences face a £600m hole – is it time for a national resilience plan?"

In ten days' time, Climate Week in Sidmouth will kick off, focussing on the science of climate change and what we can do about it:

Face2Face art exhibition > portraits of IPCC scientists

Cafe Scientifique > Prof Richard Betts of the Met Office > "The 2 degree limit - dumbing down or useful approximation?"

“Someone must do something" > Dr Ewan Woodley of Exeter University > “Climate change, natural hazards and public understandings of risk and resilience.”

Rob Hopkins and the Atmos Project > practical ideas for the local community and economy

Matt Harvey and the Element in the Room > stand-up comedian and perfomance poet

Coastal Communities and their Local Economies > with the New Economics Foundation and the Norman Lockyer Observatory
Vision Group for Sidmouth - Climate Week 2015

Meanwhile in London, the Ecobuild will be starting up - and will be considering the same issues:

Excitement building for 'Ecobuild' 2015

13 February 2015

With the elections just weeks away, renewable energy members will much to discuss at the 2015 Ecobuild show, set to take place 3–5 March at London’s ExCeL exhibition centre.

Ecobuild, billed by organizers as the “world'’ leading sustainable design, construction and energy event, promises to offer the full spate of programming, including informative educational sessions, roundtable discussions, product showcase and exhibition, as well as a few special networking events.

More than 44,000 sustainable built environment professionals representing the sustainable design, construction and energy marketplace for new build, refurb, commercial and domestic buildings are expected.

Excitement building for 'Ecobuild' 2015 - Renewable Energy Focus

According to the trade website 'World Cement', the annual trade fair on 'sustainable design, construction and energy' will have some high-profile speakers:

Energy and Climate Change Minister to keynote Ecobuild 2015

Ecobuild has unveiled its full conference programme with a host of big name industry and Westminster speakers:

Ed Davey, Secretary of State for Energy & Climate Change.
Natalie Bennett, Head of the Green Party.
Lord John Prescott, former Deputy Prime Minister and UK negotiator for the Kyoto Protocol on climate change.
Alistair Campbell, former British PM spokesman.

Ecobuild announces line-up of high-profile speakers

The Ecobuild organisers have given particular focus, however, on a different line up - and they will be considering how climate change will be effecting flooding:

Only 10 days until Ecobuild 2015!

England’s flood defences face a £600m hole – is it time for a national resilience plan?

Millions of homes are at risk of flooding and the risk is increasing due to climate change. High profile cases of flooding across the UK led to ministers increasing flood defence spending with emergency grants. However, in November, the National Audit Office found funding had fallen by 10% since 2010.

Extreme weather events are increasing in frequency and severity, leading to widespread flooding and damage.

Is there a need for a properly funded long term national environmental resilience plan linked to a national infrastructure plan to tackle these threats? What should this look like and can the money be made available?

Join our expert panel on Wednesday 4th March in the North Arena who will address this burning issue.

The political debate: Is it time for a national environmental resilience plan?

Host: Roger Harrabin, BBC’s Environment Analyst
Rt Hon Oliver Letwin MP, Minister for Government Policy and Chancellor of Duchy of Lancaster
Maria Eagle MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
Baroness Parminter, Liberal Democrat Member of the House of Lords and Co-Chair of the DEFRA/DECC Parliamentary Party Committee
Lord John Prescott, former Deputy Prime Minister
Robin Smale, Committee Member, Natural Capital Committee; and Director, Vivid Economics
Professor Michael Depledge, Chair of Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School

>>> Click here to view the full conference programme and speaker line-up <<<