“Thinking Global Acting Local” The Low Carbon South East Conference with the Secretary of State for Innovation
29 November 2007
On the 29th and 30th November Southampton University will be hosting the Low Carbon South East Conference. Organised by the Environment Centre (tEC), a locally based environmental charity in Hampshire, and sponsored by The South East England Development Agency (SEEDA), the conference will include contributions from over 40 key note speakers. These range form "The global", including the Secretary of State for Innovation, the Right Honourable John Denham MP, the Co-Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Sir John Houghton, the Chair of The Environment Agency, Sir John Harman and the Chair of SEEDA, James Brathwaite through to "the local" deliverers of low carbon policies and solutions who are on the ground across the South East.
Chair of the Conference, Dr. Richard Williams said that:
"With Climate Change one of the key issues on the agenda of every level of government, businesses and communities we need to make sure that social, environmental and economic issues are being addressed to help reduce the adverse impacts on our planet and communities."
The Secretary of State for Innovation, the Right Honourable John Denham MP added:
"Government sees the role of the development of a Low Carbon economy as a key aspect of enterprise and business innovation. It also has a key role to play in fighting climate change and improving social well-being for citizens, especially in areas of innovative use of energy. I welcome the opportunity that the conference in Southampton provides to assess what has been done in the area to date and what challenges we have to address in the future."
Chair of SEEDA and leading businessman James Brathwaite CBE said:
Achieving a low-carbon South East is vital for the region. It's not only critical in addressing the challenge of climate change, but as the Stern Review pointed out, the development of low carbon technology ,represents a major opportunity for wealth creation for the region, especially in global markets. The South East, in terms of its cutting edge companies and research excellence, is supremely well-placed to take full advantage of these new business opportunities. Innovation is the key here - and SEEDA will be helping to support and drive it - to contribute to sustainable prosperity in the region and a low-carbon future for the planet."
The conference is being hosted in Southampton as the final event of the EU supported "Suspurpol" Project which has delivered a joint policy on sustainable development into the new South East Plan covering 11 local authorities in South Hampshire (known as "SH 14" in the South East Plan). It helps create a level playing field for new housing developments, requiring all to include elements of on site renewable energy into their design along with a requirement to install the highest levels of water efficient technology and recycled material into the developments.
Other speakers at the conference will address key issues on renewable energy and the Energy White Paper from the perspective of business from Kevin McCullogh, Director of Renewables at npower and Simon Woodward, Chief Executive of Utilicom who are responsible for the innovative Geothermal Power Station located in Southampton City Centre. Study tours to such innovative schemes as well as workshops on new low carbon materials and their use in construction will be an integral part of the event.
On the evening of the 29th the Low Carbon South East Awards Dinner will be held with five categories up for award, including the Low Carbon Development of the Year. Hosted by the Right Worshipful The Mayor of Southampton, Councillor Stephen Barnes-Andrews, the awards dinner will be an opportunity for innovators and campaigners to celebrate the successes of low carbon development that have been undertaken over the past year.
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