On 5^th September 2007, the Barbican, London, plays host to the third in Public Service Events‘ sustainability-themed events for 2007 - Climate Change 07 – Creating a low carbon economy.

The subject of climate change has very quickly transcended party political lines to become a central focus of all political discourse in the UK. The Prime Minister himself has recently set out how highly the topic figures on the Government‘s agenda: “The threat from climate change is perhaps the greatest challenge facing our world. Without decisive and urgent action, it has the potential to be an economic disaster and an environmental catastrophe. This is why I have made it a top priority for this Government, both domestically and internationally” (Tony Blair March 2007).

We are witnessing a shift in the line of questioning from government, from ‘do we need to act?’ to ‘how much do we need to do, and when?’, and momentum is gathering in taking the country towards a fundamentally altered, more environmentally sustainable economy.

The subsequent draft Climate Change Bill is the first of its kind in any country, and will provide a strong legal framework to manage future emissions and underpin the UK‘s contribution to tackling climate change. It provides a clear, credible and long-term framework that will provide greater clarity for businesses and individuals, with key elements including:

• Legally binding carbon dioxide reduction targets for 2020 and 2050;
• The introduction of a system of “carbon budgeting”, capping emissions over five year periods and with three budgets set ahead to help businesses plan and invest with increased confidence;
• The creation of a new independent body to advise on the setting of carbon budgets and to report on progress;
• Enabling powers to make future policies to control emissions quicker and easier to introduce;
• The introduction of a new system of Government reporting to parliament including on climate change adaptation policies.

Climate Change 07 – Creating a low carbon economy will give delegates from across the public sector the opportunity to learn and debate just how such plans will impact them, and how best we can achieve a minimal carbon footprint without compromising the UK’s strong economic performance.

Climate change is here to stay on the public sector agenda – if you’d like to know more about how it will impact you in your daily work, this Public Service Event is for you!