Archived press release

Friends of the Earth at the Party conferences

18 September 2006

This year Friends of the Earth is putting climate change at the top of the agenda at this year's for main party conferences as one of the lead agencies at the Climate Clinic. Friends of the Earth's events at the Climate Clinic - and elsewhere at the conference fringe - are listed below.

For more information on the Climate Clinic see www.climateclinic.org.uk

Friends of the Earth at the Lib Dem Party Conference, Brighton

At the Climate Clinic

Tuesday 19 September 12:45 - 2pm

Climate Porn

Hosted by Friends of the Earth / IPPR

Chair: Katie Elliott, Speakers: David Adam (Guardian) Baroness Sue Miller (Lib Dems), Matthew Davis (Stop Climate Chaos) and IPPR.

Outside:

Wednesday 20 September 1pm - 2pm, Holiday Inn Hotel

The Companies Bill: Making Corporates Accountable?
Hosted by CORE and TJM, sponsored by Unity Trust Bank
Chair: Polly Toynbee, Speakers: Ed Davey, David Howarth, Phil Michaels and Deborah Doane.

Your Local Shop: Its Future?

Wednesday 20 September, 18.15-19.30, The Library, Hilton Brighton Metropole

Hosted jointly by Friends of the Earth with the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) and the Co-operative Group, on the impact of planning on the shape of food shopping, its future, and what could be done to promote local shops.
The current Competition Commission Inquiry and the Barker Review make this is a crucial time for our High Streets and local shops, with new opportunities and threats. Speakers: Dan Rogerson spokesperson for Communities and Local Government, Duncan Bowdler (Chair), The Co-operative Group, James Lowman, Association of Convenience Stores, Sandra Bell, Friends of the Earth.

Friends of the Earth at the Labour Party Conference

At the Climate Clinic, The Cube, Portland St, Manchester:

Tuesday 26 September 9.30am

Time to Get Real: Avoiding 'dangerous' climate change - what does it really mean for the UK?

Hosted by the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research

Chair: Mike Childs, Head of Campaigns Friends of the Earth.
Speakers:Dr Kevin Anderson (Research Director, Tyndall Centre's Energy and Climate Change Programme); Dr Alice Bows (Senior Research Fellow, Tyndall Centre); Dr Sarah Mander (Deputy Leader, Tyndall Centre's Energy and Climate Change Programme); Mr Richard Starkey (Senior Research Fellow, Tyndall Centre)

Setting out the real world implications of avoiding "dangerous" climate change and argue the policy shifts needed are far more dramatic than the Government is current prepared to acknowledge. Come and get a taste of how a low carbon society might operate in the UK with plenty of opportunity to engage with the Tyndall Centre scientists on how to achieve it.

Tuesday 26 September, 12pm - 1.30pm

Up in Smoke: will climate change derail global poverty eradication?

Hosted by the Working Group on Climate Change and Development (the Up in Smoke? Coalition)

Chaired by Andrew Simms, Policy Director, nef

Speakers from Friends of the Earth, Oxfam, Practical Action

Tuesday 26 September, 12.45pm - 2pm

Hosted by Friends of the Earth

Speakers: Sir John Harman, (Chair, Environment Agency); Ray Georgeson, (Director of Policy and Evaluation, WRAP); Dr Michael Warhurst, (Senior waste and resources campaigner, Friends of the Earth).discuss how the UK can reduce climate emissions globally through prevention, reuse, recycling and composting, and why energy from waste incineration is not a solution.

Tuesday 26 September, 5pm - 7pm

They Think It's All Over, The Big Ask Climate Change Quiz

Hosted by Friends of the Earth

Chaired by Justin Rowlatt, Newsnight's Ethical Man

On the teams: Environment Secretary David Miliband, Malcolm Wicks MP, Gareth Thomas MP, Adam Boulton, Janet Street Porter, John Vidal, Friends of the Earth Director Tony Juniper, Friends of the Earth International Climate Campaigner Catherine Pearce and Friends of the Earth Corporates Campaigner Sarah Jayne Clifton.

Wednesday 27 September, 12.45 - 2pm

The Aldersgate Group and Friends of the Earth

Chair: Lord Whitty, former Minister for food, farming and sustainable energy.
Speakers: Sir John Harman, Chairman of the Environment Agency, Nigel Clark, Enviros Ltd
Charlie King, GMB (and author of TUSDAC's Greening the Workplace report), Friends of the Earth's Economics Co-ordinator Tim Jenkins.

Outside

Monday 25 September, 8.30 - 9.30am, Radisson Hotel,

Breakfast Debate: The Company Law Reform Bill
Hosted by CORE & TJM
Sponsored by Unity Trust Bank in conjunction with Compass
Chair: Liam Halligan
Speakers: Companies Minister Margaret Hodge and Friends of the Earth Executive Director Tony Juniper.

Your Local Shop: Its Future?

Wednesday 27 September, Time 1245-1400, Room Dickens/Thackey Room, Venue Radisson Edwardian Hotel, Hosted jointly by Friends of the Earth with the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) and the Co-operative Group, the meeting will explore the impact of planning on the shape of food shopping, its future, and what could be done to promote local shops. The current Competition Commission Inquiry and the Barker Review make this is a crucial time for our High Streets and local shops, with new opportunities and threats.

Speakers: Dr Phyllis Starkey MP, Chair, Communities and Local Government Select Committee,Martin Beaumont (Chair), The Co-operative Group,James Lowman, Association of Convenience Stores, Hugh Ellis, Friends of the Earth.

Friends of the Earth at the Tory Party Conference

Outside:

Your Local Shop: Its Future?

Wednesday 4th October, 12.30 - 2pm, Sherbourne Room, Highcliffe Hotel, Bournemouth

Hosted jointly by Friends of the Earth with the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) and the Co-operative Group, the meeting will explore the impact of planning on the shape of food shopping, its future, and what could be done to promote local shops. The current Competition Commission Inquiry and the Barker Review make this is a crucial time for our High Streets and local shops, with new opportunities and threats.

Speakers: Shadow Minister for Communities and Local Government Alistair Burt MP, Duncan Bowdler (Chair), The Co-operative Group, James Lowman, Association of Convenience Stores, Vicki Hird, Friends of the Earth

If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust