School of Oriental and African Studies, Brunei Gallery Room B104, London
Monday 30th November 2009, 5-7pm

READ THE REPORT HERE

DEBATE OVERVIEW

This interactive, dynamic debate takes place in the context of rising concern about climate change, and takes place just before the crucial meeting at Copenhagen of the United Nations Climate Change Conference. Speakers from the EU, civil society and academia will speak and debate, with strong interaction from audience participants, at SOAS, London.

Speakers include:

Michael Meacher MP, former Environment Minister

Rob Bailey, Senior Policy Adviser on Climate Change, Oxfam International

Timo Makela, Director of Sustainable Development and Integration DG Environment, European Commission

Andrew Pendleton, Senior Research Fellow, IPPR (tbc)

Becky Luff, Director, ChiC

Dr Desmond Turner MP, House of Commons Energy and Climate Change Committee.

Copenhagen will give a decisive impulse for global negotiations culminating in a new international agreement on combating climate change in the post-2012 period. However, it is imperative that civil society, academia, NGOs and others make their voices heard.

As things currently stand, developing countries are likely to bear the brunt of climate change’s effects. They are less equipped to face emergencies and are more dependent on agricultural production. But they are also key to any deal on climate change: China and India together emit around 25% of global greenhouse emissions.

The European Union has launched its 20-20-20 plan to cut CO2 emissions by 20% by 2020, but a fierce debate has now started around how to share the cost of emissions reduction fairly. Developed countries call for an equal division, while the emerging economies are quick to point out the West’s role as prime historic polluter. Current discussions revolve around the need for technology transfer to enable energy-saving production, the risks of ecological dumping, and a reworked system of global carbon credits trading.

The debate brings together political and academic voices to identify the problems and share ideas for a just approach to climate change, seeking the balance between the need for action on global emissions and the rights of developing countries.

To sign up please email Adam Harrison at a.harrison@euroalter.com Or please come along on the day.

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School of Oriental and African Studies, UCL, London
Monday 30th November 2009, 5-7pm

In Partnership with the European Commission Representation in the UK

 

 

 

 

Photo from front page: Caroline Gluck/Oxfam