Phoning for good

Northern Rivers Echo
Thursday 11/1/2007 Page: 29

So, how do you have a conference about sustainability (or any conference for that matter) and not have all participants having to drive or fly to a destination thereby spewing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere? Telephone conferencing! Next Wednesday, January 17, from 7-8.30pm, the Rainforest Information Centre will host another Climate Study/Action Telephone Conference this time featuring Mark Diesendorf, director of Sustainability Centre Pty Ltd. He'll speak on A Sustainable Energy Future for Australia.

The telephone conference series brings perspectives on climate change to a wide audience across Australia without requiring people to travel in a carbon intensive way.

The human-induced greenhouse effect is the most dangerous environmental problem and the most difficult political issue to be faced by the world in the 21st century. Unfortunately, Australia has the largest per capita emission of greenhouse gases in the world.

The good news is that Australia could halve its greenhouse gas emissions by 2040 - at low cost. We already have many technologies for using energy more efficiently. Cleaner sources of energy supply are commercially viable and available right now - sources like wind power, bio-energy from the combustion of crop residues, and natural gas. And there's rapidly developing technologies like solar electricity and hot dry rock geothermal power.

Talks are free except for the cost of the call which will be less than $5 with an international calling card.

To register or for more info email rainforestinfo@ozemail.com.au.