September 2010 is turning out to be a veritable over-stuffed cornucopia of Climate Change- and Energy-related events.
This week, 15th September 2010 breaks the record for the number of useful things I could be doing. I am effectively quintuple-booked, and something’s got to go (well, nearly all of them, actually).
Sadly, I’m going to have to blow off Forum for the Future :-
https://gatecrashenergy2.eventbrite.com/
“Gatecrashing the energy sector : Forum for the Future are running an experimental project inviting people to gatecrash the UK energy system. We believe we need a radical shift in the way we generate, distribute, store and use energy and we are not convinced this change is going to come from within the current energy sector. We think that disruption generally comes from the fringes or even outside the current system and this is where we are looking for ideas. Join us for an evening of networking and ideas generation and be part of a project that will demonstrate there is huge appetite for alternatives to the current system…”
Hub Kings Cross, 34B York Way, London N1 9AB
6.30-9.30pm
I’m also going to have to say bye-bye-miss-you to the Agrofuels protest and public meeting from BiofuelWatch and Campaign against Climate Change :-
https://www.campaigncc.org/node/421
“Stop subsidising agrofuels and deforestation”
Demonstration
5.00pm – 6.30pm
DECC (Department of Energy and Climate Change), 3 Whitehall Place, London.
“Demonstrate outside DECC against the subsidising of agrofuels through ROCs (“Renewable Obligations Certificates”). A chance to take the message direct to government.”
“How we can stop ‘Agrofuels’ undermining the fight against climate change”
Public Meeting
7.00pm Wedesday 15th September
SOAS (School of Oriental and African Studies), Thornhaugh Street, off Russell Square (Russell Square tube), London.
“Speakers will include Andrew Butler from “NOPE” (“No Palm Oil Energy”) the local campaign group on the Isle of Portland where we will be holding our upcoming “National Demonstration against Agrofuels” on the 25th, and Kenneth Richter from Friends of the Earth, who will be just back from talking to anti-agrofuel campaigners in Ghana.”
“”Agro-fuels” are “bio-fuels” produced through intensive agriculture. They have been hailed as a solution to climate change but cannot be produced without using large areas of land… putting more pressure on land has a variety of adverse environmental impacts, including competition with foodcrops, deforestation and increased destruction of biodiverse habitats – and as a result accelerated climate change. Come to the meeting to learn how fighting climate change means not only piling on the pressure for action but making sure we have real solutions not false solutions.”
“Meanwhile Andrew Butler will be coming up from Portland where our upcoming demo against a proposed palm oil burning agrofuel power station will be held. This is just one of a wave of proposed agrofuel power stations around the country. Come to the meeting to find out how we can organise to stop this madness.”
Much as I’m loathe to, I’m also going to have to evict from my diary the Green Alliance invitation to “Europe: looking ahead on climate change : The path to 2020 and 2050” :-
Wednesday 15 September 2010, 09.00 – 17.30
Institution of Mechanical Engineers, One Birdcage Walk, London SW1H 9JJ
“Including keynote speeches by: The Rt Hon Chris Huhne MP, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change and Janez Potocnik, European Commissioner for the Environment”
“Also featuring: Professor Sir Brian Hoskins, Grantham Institute for Climate Change; Jules Kortenhorst, chief executive, European Climate Foundation; Nick Mabey, chief executive, E3G; Professor Goran Strbac, chair in electrical energy systems, Imperial College London; Dr Keith Allott, head of climate change, WWF-UK; Jeremy Oppenheim, director, McKinsey & Company [to be confirmed]; Further senior speakers from industry and government to be confirmed”
“This whole-day conference will see the UK launch of the European Climate Foundation Roadmap 2050 report, a ground-breaking analysis undertaken by McKinsey & Company, KEMA, The Energy Futures Lab at Imperial College London, Oxford Economics, Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands, Office for Metropolitan Architecture, E3G and the Regulatory Assistance Project.”
“Participants will discuss the implications for UK climate and energy policy of the Roadmap 2050 analysis, considering the opportunities and challenges of an interconnected Europe. Keynote speakers will give their perspectives on how to secure accelerated European action on climate change in this new decade, discussing the EU’s carbon emissions reduction targets for 2020 and the Europe 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth.”
“To register for this event visit https://www.green-alliance-event.org.uk/ or phone 020 7630 4515. Attendance is free but places are limited. Conference location and agenda will be confirmed in early September.”
“This conference is organised by Green Alliance and the European Commission Representation in the UK as part of the series Climate Change: EU Opportunities, in association with the European Climate Foundation and Transform UK”
Talking of interesting meetings, since I’m talking of interesting meetings, I might be able to make it to this conference, on 11th October :-
“Alliances for a Green Recovery: A TUC one-day conference”
https://www.tuc.org.uk/economy/tuc-18363-f0.cfm
11 October 2010, Congress House
With Chris Huhne, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change
“This year’s TUC conference on climate change necessarily links the drive for a low carbon economy with pathways out of the recession. Alliances for a Green Recovery will highlight the respective roles of government, business, trade unions, community and finance organisations in accelerating the transition to a low carbon future, and what we can do better together. Your contribution in this conference at this crucial time in Government policymaking will be very welcome.”
“Paul Noon, General Secretary of Prospect, will chair the conference for the TUC. Environment Secretary Chris Huhne will make an opening keynote speech on the Coalition’s strategy for sustainable growth, with Frances O’Grady responding on behalf of the TUC. David Kennedy, CEO, Committee on Climate Change, will then outline the climate change challenge the UK faces, and the CCC’s advice on an energy and industrial strategy to meet these targets. Delegates are then offered a choice of two from nine expert-led Response Workshops before and after the lunch break. They tackle key themes including building local green alliances, green skills, low carbon transport, the Green Investment Bank, green energy, energy efficiency, reforming our energy market, securing energy intensive industries, and building alliances for a global climate change agreement. A leading economics’ journalist will chair the Green Policy Panel in the afternoon. Our closing speaker will provide an Opposition view on building a green recovery.”
Back to consideration of this Wednesday, 15th September 2010 – I’m even going to have to act slack in putting in an appearance at “Green Drinks”, a networking event held on the 1st and 15th of every month at the newly refurbished Rose & Crown in Walthamstow, London E17 :-
https://www.greendrinks.org/London/Waltham%20Forest
I wouldn’t have thought it possible, but I’ve got something more important to do…
One reply on “Spoilt for Choice”
but I’ve got something more important to do…
do tell!!