Marlborough Express - Weekend Express
The lowdown on low carbon
A panel of straight talkers will put their differences aside to help find a way forward for a greener Marlborough.
National MP Stuart Smith, Green Party MP Kennedy Graham and Labour Party candidate Janette Walker will be at Marlborough’s inaugural Earth Day Party on Saturday.
The group will each be given a minute to outline their thoughts on a carbon-neutral future to the public before answering questions.
Victoria University geology professor emeritus Peter Barrett will also attend the event at Marlborough’s A&P Park where he will give a talk on global warming.
Founding member of the New Zealand Climate Change Research Institute, Professor Barrett is also attending.
Event organiser Peter Deacon says he hopes the discussion will spark a public debate on the issues of climate change.
‘‘No doubt there will be people who feel climate change doesn’t exist but this is a subject we need to be talking about.
‘‘As New Zealand faces the challenge of transitioning from fossil fuels towards a carbon-zero future, we must now re-imagine and re-engineer our economy and our way of living, to place lower demands on the planet’s finite resources.’’
The family-friendly celebration coincides with International Earth Day.
A range of exhibitions and demonstrations of renewable energy will take place throughout the day and a mix of electric- powered items will be on display to try out. Battery-powered mowers, weed eaters and chainsaws as well as other low carbon technologies will be on show alongside electric bikes, cars and motorbikes.
Peter says he wants the event to be ‘‘family orientated’’ and there will be a special Kids’ Corner and entertainment area with three bouncy castles, colouring competitions and face painting.
A range of spot prizes will also be on offer including autographed goodies from the Topp Twins.
The event begins at 10am and runs until 3pm.