Press release: Climate Change Conference
Climate Change Conference 2010: scientists and community leaders will reveal the latest on climate change challenges and explore extreme solutions
Toronto, July 26, 2010 — Climate Change Conference 2010 is three full days of climate challenges, questions and solutions, with no spin and no sugar-coating. Held at Hart House, at the University of Toronto, from Friday, August 13 to Sunday, August 15, the conference will provide an unflinching look at the world’s climate challenges as explained by climate scientists.
Featured speakers include Bill McKibben, founder of 350.org and author of Eaarth, Andrew Weaver, lead author for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and author of Keeping Our Cool, and Elizabeth May, leader of the Green Party of Canada.
“We’ve gathered some of the leading climate scientists in the world to discuss bold initiatives to help Canada and countries around the world to meet emissions targets and effect positive change,” says Adriana Mugnatto-Hamu, Green Party Climate Change Critic. “The conference will also focus on the latest directions in global negotiations on climate change and explore some ethically challenging solutions with potentially extreme side effects.”
The Friday afternoon forum, Across Borders and Generations, is youth-oriented and free to all. Saturday evening’s panel on Working Together is devoted to bridging divides between various groups working on the issue of climate change.
“And throughout Saturday and Sunday, we’ll have scientists and experts speaking on specific challenges, impacts, and solutions, covering everything from transportation and green buildings, to the status of the tar sands and ocean acidification,” says Adriana. “It’s a chance for anyone interested in learning more about the current state of climate change to hear the most up-to-date information from the scientists themselves.”
Climate Change Conference 2010 is presented jointly by University of Toronto Greens and the Toronto-Danforth Federal Green Party. The conference is non-partisan and open to all.
What Climate Change Conference 2010 speakers are saying
“We are at a critical crossroads as a human race. We have an opportunity to turn things around like never before and this conference will inspire action on the climate change challenges we’re facing right now.” — Andrew Weaver
“Time to screw around is over. Either we learn to survive together or we will all drown.Hope this conference will address that point.” — Afsan Chowdhury
“In order to move beyond oil, the fatal fuel that is driving the world towards economic and environmental collapse, Canada is going to have to break with decades of inaction and launch an electric mobility revolution. Necessity will provide a tremendous opportunity to connect our natural advantages in generating electricity from renewable power, chiefly hydro, wind and tidal sources, so that we can move people and freight without oil aboard electrically powered trains, buses, and motor vehicles. I hope that participants at the conference will help Canadians seize the moment to advance electric mobility and thus enhance the odds of a peaceful and productive future.” — Anthony Perl
“The reality of climate and ocean change calls people of all political and faith communities to bring hearts and minds together to confront the most critical moral challenge of our lifetime.” — Mardi Tindal
“The conference’s focus on solutions will help us move climate change action past the pre-contemplation and contemplation phases, where many official organizations have stalled. My talk will introduce people to the Transition concept and what it has to offer, as well as Transition Toronto as a local theatre of climate change action with opportunities for all to contribute.” — Andrew Knox
“It’s been a dynamic and monumental year in terms of global mobilization around the energy-climate-crisis. This weekend is a chance to recharge and once again call all hands on deck.” — Gracen Johnson
Speaker profiles and a conference program can be found at ccc-toronto.ca. To find out more about Adriana Mugnatto-Hamu, please visit danforthgreens.ca. For more on the U of T Greens, visit uoftgreens.wordpress.com.
For more information or to arrange a media interview with Adriana Mugnatto-Hamu or any of the speakers quoted above, please contact:
Bob Cook
bobcook665@hotmail.com
416-406-6711
| — Michela Pasquali on 2010 Aug 4 in Ecology & sustainability |
We’ll watch this conference closely. When almost no one shows up, and the media gives it no coverage, we’ll know then that climate change as a political issue is dead. And perhaps Lizzy May will consider going to another party, she’ll know then that the green ride is over.
Cheer up, the climate scare is over, we’re all saved.