A visit by experts emphasises the Island’s commitment to playing its part in tackling global climate challenges and carbon emissions.
Professors Kevin Anderson and Alice Bows-Larkin will give a public talk at The Studio Theatre, Ballakermeen High School, on Wednesday 17th February at 6.15pm.
The talk is free to attend and tickets can be booked here or via the DEFA – Environment facebook page.
Kevin is Professor of Energy and Climate Change at the School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering at University of Manchester and Deputy Director of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research. He has advised the UK Government on climate change.
Alice is Professor of Climate Science and Energy Policy at the university and a director and researcher for the Tyndall Centre. She is associate editor of the journal Carbon Management.
In their talk – Going beyond dangerous climate change: how Paris locks out 2°C – they state there is a widening gulf between political rhetoric on climate change and the reality of escalating emissions.
They believe there’s little chance of maintaining the rise in global temperature to below 2°C despite a global commitment to do so.
Their visit is organised jointly by the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture (DEFA) and Isle of Man Friends of the Earth.
While in the Island, the speakers will also brief Tynwald Members and visit secondary schools.
Ralph Peake MHK, Member of DEFA with responsibility for Environment, Safety and Health, attended the annual conference on climate change, hosted by the Royal Institute for International Affairs, ahead of the crucial United Nations climate conference held in Paris in December.
It was in Paris that nations committed to a universal, binding agreement to combat climate change.
Mr Peake reiterated that climate change is high on the Isle of Man Government’s agenda.
‘As a small Island nation, we are only too aware of the effects unchecked climate change would have,’ he said.
‘Tynwald last year approved our policies on mitigating for and adapting to climate change. Work by the Department on a strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions is now under way.
‘It is important that, as a nation, we keep up to date on international developments and update our approach accordingly. As part of this we need to listen to and learn from experts in the field and the visit of two such eminent professors will give us an even greater understanding of the subject.’
For more information on the speakers, visit http://kevinanderson.info or follow @kevinclimate on Twitter.
To find out more about the Island’s work on climate change, visit DEFA’s pages on www.gov.im and click on ‘climate change’.
Photo - Professor Alice Bows-Larkin.
