Unitec to host climate science forum

Unitec Department of Civil Engineering hosts forum on climate change

Award-winning and controversial author Ian Wishart will be one of a number of speakers presenting their views on climate change at Unitec Institute of Technology in July.

Proponents and skeptics of climate change will meet at the "Clearing the Air" forum at Unitec’s Mt Albert campus on 16 and 17 July. The forum is being jointly convened by Unitec's Department of Civil Engineering and the New Zealand Christian Network, and will feature both experts in climate change and leaders of Christian churches.

Wishart’s presentation is entitled Climate Change: The Great Deception and will cover findings in his recently published book, ‘Air Con’, which claims to uncover who's telling the truth, who's not and how much ordinary people will have to pay to remedy the effects of global warming. The effectiveness of the recently introduced Emissions Trading Scheme in New Zealand will also be discussed, and NIWA climate scientists will present evidence of changes in both climate and sea level encompassing New Zealand, during the two-day forum.

Members of the public are invited to take part and hear these views and others by presenters from a spectrum of viewpoints including experts from Waikato, Massey, and Victoria Universities; Laidlaw College, the New Zealand Christian Network, New Zealand Climate Science Coalition and TEAR Fund.

Co-convenor and leading energy analyst Associate Professor Jonathan Leaver of Unitec’s Sustainable Energy Research Group says Unitec’s Department of Civil Engineering is committed to promoting informed discussion on sustainability in the environment and is delighted to be hosting the “Clearing the Air” forum.

Leaver believes New Zealand has the opportunity to plot a path to the future in which 90% of its energy would come from sustainable sources by 2050.

“In order to give certainty to future planning the effect of emissions from fossil fuels needs to be determined as soon as possible,” Leaver says.

“The forum is an opportunity for experts on climate change to speak with the leaders of the nearly 50 percent of New Zealanders who identify themselves with the Christian faith community,” he says.

From the forum, the Christian Church leaders intend to develop a communiqué for church members.

Registration is $50 at http://www.visionnetwork.org.nz/shop/categories/Events/
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