Climate debate at Discovery Centre (From This is Hampshire)

Climate debate at Discovery Centre

7:20am Sunday 22nd November 2009

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A CONFERENCE on the challenges of climate change saw around 100 people pack the Winchester Discovery Centre.

The two-day event was the first of its kind in the city and saw a host of speakers debate the issue of how society can reduce carbon emissions.

Among them was Labour MP Alan Simpson who said the UK could learn from the German government who are hoping to meet all of their renewable energy needs by 2050.

Entitled ‘The Transition to Low Carbon: Policy Frameworks and Community Action’, the workshop was billed as a rare opportunity to discuss community-level action on climate change with some of the nation’s leading experts.

Speaking on the first day of the workshop, Nottingham South MP Alan Simpson, said: “Most energy companies hate the idea of paying citizens for ‘clean’ energy that we generate for ourselves. That is why there has been such opposition to ambitious plans to deliver 10-15 per cent of our energy from renewable sources by 2020.

“Germany already exceeds this figure and their citizens love it. By 2050 they intend to meet all their energy needs from renewable sources. The UK could do the same. Some of this could come from technologies that are 20 years old or longer.”

The event was organised by Winchester Action on Climate Change, (WinACC), the University of Southampton and Cap & Share UK. It continues today from 9am until 4.30pm.