Energy, climate change conference proves a drawcard

DUNEDIN Mayor Dave Cull and Environment Minister David Parker are among a group of highprofile speakers who will address an energy and climate change conference which begins in the city today.

The 12th Energy and Climate Change Symposium is a twoday event, being held at the Otago Museum.

Dr Michael Jack and Associate Prof Ivan DiazRainey are co directors of the University of Otagobased Otago Energy Research Centre (OERC) and are jointly coordinating the gathering.

Dr Jack said the 12th annual OERC symposium was meeting for the first time in collaboration with Otago Climate Change Network.

There was now a focus throughout the country on energy and on mitigating and adapting to climate change.

This gathering ‘‘brings together a range of speakers and experts’’ to discuss the issues in these two areas, Dr Jack said.

The gathering had attracted 112 delegates, the highest attendance in the event’s history, and had never before had such a highprofile range of speakers.

‘‘It’s very positive.

‘‘We’re really happy with how the conference is turning out,’’ he said.

Adding to the positive mood was the Government’s commitment to pursuing a lowcarbon, sustainable future, and the gathering coincided with ‘‘a new wave that’s just starting to grow now’’.

A leading international figure in climate change and sustainable energy circles, Prof Diana UrgeVorsatz, director of the Centre for Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Policies at the Central European University in Budapest, Hungary, and Transpower general manager, operations and innovation, John Clarke are among the other speakers.