City News

Birmingham’s Response to Climate Change - How Radical Should It Be?

Birmingham Town Hall, Tuesday, 14th October 2008

Birmingham was the cradle of the Industrial Revolution; what should it now do to live with the consequences? Today’s Lunar Society will broaden the debate on Climate Change in its keynote event at Birmingham Town Hall on 14th October 2008. It has recruited a stellar line up to discuss: “Birmingham’s Response to Climate Change - How Radical Should It Be?” The event will feature contributions from leading politicians, academics and economists. Chairman of the BBC Trust and Lunarman Sir Michael Lyons will chair the event.

The panel includes former Chancellor of the Exchequer Rt. Hon Nigel Lawson who recently published “An Appeal for Reason: A Cool Look at Global Warming” in which he argues against the findings of the Stern Report. David Henderson is former Chief Economist at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and now a prominent critic of the evidence for man-made global warming. Julian Morris is the Director of the International Policy Network think tank and formerly Director of the Environment and Technology Programme at the Institute of Economic Affairs.

Rt. Hon Michael Meacher MP is the Labour Member for Oldham West and Royton and Minister of State for the Environment in Tony Blair’s first administration. He is now a prominent campaigner on environmental and climate change issues. Kevin Anderson is a Professor at the University of Manchester and lead researcher at the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research. Jacqueline McGlade is Executive Director of the European Environment Agency, formerly a Professor of Biological Sciences at the University of Warwick and has undertaken extensive research into climate change.

Commenting on the forthcoming Debate, Chair of the Lunar Society, Professor Deirdre Kelly said: “The Lunar Society enjoys a long standing reputation for being the conduit for ideas and discussion on a range of local and global issues. Climate Change is certainly a topic that causes considerable debate amongst scientists, academics, economists, politicians and the wider public.

“Following a stimulating Annual Lecture given by Chairman of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution Sir John Lawton in 2006, The Lunar Society has been facilitating efforts for the city region to become a global leader in meeting the challenge of climate change. Two years on, this event will be an opportunity to hear the views of some of the most respected thinkers on all sides of the debate in one room.

 
“I have no doubt that the ideas and views highlighted at the Town Hall will – as with so many Lunar Society events over time – be the subject of further analysis among campaigners, policy makers and decision makers in Birmingham and far beyond. I hope, in Lunar Society tradition, we will generate more light than heat on this issue.”

The audience at the Town Hall Debate will consist of members of the Lunar Society, academics and representatives from education and business organisations across the city. Anyone interested in attending is welcome.