Conference Focuses on Climate Change in the Highlands
More than 100 delegates have signed up for the first major climate change conference to be held in the Highlands.
Representatives from the public, private and voluntary sector are meeting on Wednesday 25 June at The Highland Council Chamber, Inverness, to discuss how best they can work together to mitigate the effects of global warming.
Entitled "Climate Change and the Highlands – Think Global – Act Local”, the conference will be opened by Councillor Sandy Park, Convener of The Highland Council and be chaired by Maf Smith, Sustainable Development Commission Scotland.
Professor Colin Galbraith, Scottish Natural Heritage will highlight the effects for the natural environment and delegates will also hear the views from the Scottish Government, the business sector and the voluntary sector.
The key messages for the day will be summarised by Councillor Drew Hendry, Chairman of the Council’s Climate Change Working Group.
He said: “The conference gives us the chance to share best practice and take forward good ideas in tackling the effects of climate change in the Highlands. The Council has signed the Scottish Climate Change Declaration committing us to wide-ranging action on climate change mitigation and adaptation. Our target is to reduce CO2 emissions by 15% by 2010 and all our Services are signed up to achieve this goal.”
SPEAKER LIST
• Maf Smith – Scottish Director, Sustainable Development Commission Scotland
• Colin Galbraith - Chief Scientist, Scottish Natural Heritage
• John Mason - Director of Climate Change, Water Industry & Environmental Quality, Scottish Government
• Drew Hendry - Chair, Climate Change Working Group, The Highland Council
• John K. O’Brien – Vice President & Senior Portfolio Manager, Alliance Bernstein
• Paul Dowling – Chief Executive Officer, Airtricity
• Mo Cloonan, Strategic projects officer, Highlands and Islands Community Energy Company
• Alison Cairns - Rural Development & Programmes Manager, SCVO
• Kerry Riddle - Area Manager (North), BTCV
• Rebecca Walker - Senior Policy Officer, Emerging issues, SEPA