With the help of some of the country’s leading experts, we will be exploring some of the issues, challenges and opportunities at a conference event in London on 21 November 2007.
In the United Kingdom, measures to mitigate climate change and adapt to its impacts are high priorities for the UK government and for the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Forests and climate change: A convenient truth?
An interactive conference to explore the role of forests
and woodlands in tackling climate change
BAFTA, 195 Piccadilly, London
Wednesday, 21 November 2007
Programme
11.30 REGISTRATION AND COFFEE
12.00 WELCOME
Rt Hon Lord David Clark, Chairman, Forestry Commission
OPENING ADDRESS
Phil Woolas MP, Minister for the Environment
FORMAT FOR THE DAY
Peter Snow, journalist and broadcaster
FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE – THE BIG PICTURE
Tim Rollinson, Director General, Forestry Commission
Forests are vital to the health of our planet. They play a crucial role in regulating the world’s climate. How can they help tackle climate change? What are the challenges and opportunities? Tim will take a global overview of the role of forests in addressing climate change and explain what we can do in the UK Electronic voting – the first of a series of short interactive sessions where Peter Snow will seek
participants’ views on key issues.
13.00 BUFFET LUNCH
13.45 PRACTICAL WAYS TO TACKLE CLIMATE CHANGE?
SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT
Stewart Maginnis, Head of Forest Conservation Programme, IUCN
What does climate change mean for multi-purpose forestry? How should we manage forests and woodlands for carbon storage and sequestration? Stewart will draw on his wide experience to look at the need for international action and why the UK has a key role in acting as a demonstrator of good practice.
WOOD FOR FUEL
Dr Keith Richards, Managing Director, TVEnergy
What are the opportunities for wood as a form of renewable energy? What is the potential for biomass as a sustainable low carbon substitute for fossil fuels? Keith will show how state-of-the-art technology enables wood fuel to provide an efficient and low cost option for heat and power at domestic and industrial levels.
WOOD – A 21st CENTURY MATERIAL
Craig White, Chair of Wood for Gold and Director of White Design
What new markets can be met through the use of wood? What strategies and policies are needed to maximise this potential?
Wood is a truly sustainable and versatile material. Craig will examine the potential for wood to meet wide-ranging uses that substitute for more carbon-intensive materials.
14.45 TEA
15.15 ADAPTING TO CLIMATE CHANGE
ADAPTING FOR CHANGE
Dr Mark Broadmeadow, Climate Change Programme Manager, Forestry Commission What will be the effects of climate change on forests and woodlands? What kinds of forests and woodlands will we need in the future? Mark will look at what this means for the forest and woodland manager, the industry, the conservationist, and others.
PLANNING FOR CHANGE
Professor John Handley, University of Manchester
What are the future roles of woodlands as we plan for a warmer climate? John will use examples in urban and rural settings to show how woodlands, as part of an integrated approach to land-use planning, can provide solutions to the pressures that will be placed
on our urban and rural infrastructure.
ADAPTING OUR BEHAVIOUR
Professor Paul Ekins, University of London
What changes to our attitudes and behaviour are required in order to achieve a low carbon economy?
How can we make these changes? Paul will explain how changes in
society and the economy are key to effective strategies to tackle climate change.
16.15 QUESTIONS TO OUR EXPERT PANEL
• Tim Rollinson
• Stewart Maginnis
• Dr Keith Richards
• Craig White
• Dr Mark Broadmeadow
• Professor John Handley
• Professor Paul Ekins
16.55 SUMMING UP AND CLOSE