Sponsors:

Tuesday November 11th 2008, Kingsway Hall Hotel - London, 09:30 - 14:00 (half day)

The Climate Change Bill: Moving the UK Towards A Low Carbon Economy

"This bill is a critical part of the equation. It will help us achieve the twin goals I set out in the strategy I am also publishing today - demonstrating leadership through action at home, while also continuing to work towards a strong international agreement post-2012. Crucially the Climate Change Bill, the first of its kind in any country, demonstrates our determination that this leadership role will continue. Government must rightly lead from the front on this, but we want everyone - the public, industry, Parliament - to have their say to help us ensure that the bill really delivers.”

Rt. Hon. David Miliband MP, Former Environment Secretary, March 13th 2007

Overview

The UK Government is committed to addressing both the causes and consequences of climate change and therefore introduced a Climate Change Bill. The Bill will create a new approach to managing and responding to climate change in the UK through: setting ambitious targets, taking powers to help achieve them, strengthening the institutional framework, enhancing the UK’s ability to adapt to the impact of climate change and establishing clear and regular accountability to the UK, Parliament and devolved legislatures. The Government aims for the Bill to receive Royal Assent by Autumn 2008.

The original strategy paper from last year set out how the Climate Change Bill fits into the Government’s wider international strategy and a range of future domestic policies to achieve its aims. It argued that all sectors of society will have to contribute to the transition to a low-carbon economy, but that this does not mean a reduction in standards of living.

It sets out a vision for how the UK can move to a low carbon economy including:

• Investment in low-carbon fuels and technologies, such as carbon capture and storage, wind, wave and solar power.
• Significantly more efficient use of energy.
• A step change in the way energy suppliers operate, so that they focus on reducing demand rather than just supplying as much energy as possible.
• Consumers becoming producers as well as consumers of energy.

The draft Climate Change Bill, the first of its kind in any country, and accompanying strategy, set out a framework for moving the UK to a low-carbon economy. It demonstrates the UK’s leadership as progress continues towards establishing a post-Kyoto global emissions agreement.

Agenda

09:30	Coffee and Registration
10:00	Opening Remarks by Chair Toddington Harper, Managing Director, Low Carbon Economy
10:10	Delivering and Implementing The Climate Change Bill Key provisions of the Bill Implications of the Bill Implementing the Bill at all Levels Moving the UK towards a low carbon economy Rachel Solomon Williams, Policy Manager, Climate Change Bill Team, Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC)
10:30	Enforcing the Bill at the Local Level Effective enforcement Issues for local government Delivering recommendations at the local level Meeting climate change targets Removing barriers Council initiatives Planning for a low carbon public economy Cllr Paul Bettison, Leader, Bracknell Forest Borough Council & Chairman, Environment Board, Local Government Association (LGA)
10:50	Delivering Carbon and Efficiency Savings Reducing carbon emissions, tackling legislation, and delivering cost savings Carbon Management – a proactive approach to emissions reduction Tom Cumberlege, Public Sector Manager, Carbon Trust
11:10	Tackling Climate Change and Increasing Energy Security Challenges in delivery of a low carbon economy Reducing demand and more efficient use of energy Consumers becoming producers as well as consumers of energy Creating low carbon communities Dr Doug Parr, Chief Scientist, Greenpeace UK
11:30	Changing the Way People Communicate Addressing ambitious government targets for CO2 reduction Efficiency gains and improvements in work life balance using visual communication technology Travel reduction equals cost reduction, that is a given for any organisation. Accelerate decision making and the ability to scale knowledge immediately by accessing remote experts is also a primary driver for the uptake of visual communications. Promoting a better work/life balance and unifying disparate teams all add to employee satisfaction and wellbeing, propagating stronger and more efficient organisations. Steve Woollett, Head of Public Sector Business, TANDBERG
11:45	Coffee and Networking
12:00	Questions and Answers Session
12:30	Keynote Close: Taking Forward the Climate Change Bill Tim Yeo MP, Chair of the Environmental Audit Committee
13:00	Lunch and Networking
14:00	Close

*programme subject to change without notice

Sponsors

TANDBERG

TANDBERG is the leading global provider of telepresence, high-definition videoconferencing and end to end video solutions. Their mission is to change the way people communicate. Their vision is a world where all communication is natural and unencumbered by technology. TANDBERG solutions positively impact the environment without raising costs or sacrificing productivity. For their customers, using videoconferencing solutions reduces unnecessary travel. Staying off the roads and out of the skies means less CO2.

Mvision

Video conferencing has always promised an array of benefits, but never delivered on its full potential. Mvision's Fully Managed Service enables their customers to reap those benefits. By removing the high cost of ownership and capex issues as well as removing the problems with bandwidth availability and IT resources, mvision has made video available to everyone.

Audience

The event will be comprised of an audience from central government departments & bodies, local authorities, trade unions, think tanks, businesses and employers, regional development agencies, local strategic partnerships, local, regional and national health services, NGOs, environmental organisations, science and innovation, housing organizations, academia and legal & voluntary and all those interested in the climate change debate.

 

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