CLIMATE SPECIALISTS COME TO BRISBANE

Some of Australia’s leading climate specialists will be in Brisbane this week for this year’s Natural Resources Week conference on May 23.

Minister for Natural Resources and Water Craig Wallace said the conference, Climate Change, had a line up of speakers who were experts in their fields.

“Climate change is one of the most significant issues facing us today,” Mr Wallace said.

“That’s why it’s the focus of this year’s conference and why we have invited the country’s leading climate change specialists to share their knowledge and expertise,” he said.

The lunch speaker is leading futurist, social commentator, university lecturer, writer and broadcaster Dr Keith Suter.

Dr Suter’s presentation will look at how the issue of climate change could evolve over the coming years.

He will also look at how current world attention on climate change and the environment compares to other times when the issue was in the spotlight.

Other presentations include climate change and its effect on water supply options by Dr Bryson Bates, a Climate Science Leader with the CSIRO.

One of the areas Dr Bates will focus on in his presentation is how future climate change could have a sizeable impact on our ability to balance water supply and demand.

Frank Van Schagen, CEO of the CRC for Coal in Sustainable Development, will speak on the challenges and opportunities for coal and low emissions.

John Sheehan from the Australian Property Institute will give a presentation on carbon trading and its relation to property rights.

The afternoon session will feature a round table discussion - The future…it’s up to us - featuring a panel of invited experts and guests. This session will be run by MC for the day, host of The New Inventors James O’Loghlin.

“Anyone with an interest in climate change and how it relates to the state’s natural resources should take the opportunity to attend the conference and hear what the presenters have to say,” Mr Wallace said.

The conference is being held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre on Wednesday 23 May 2007.

Program details, registration brochure, cost and more information about the conference is available on the NRW west site at

http://www.nrw.qld.gov.au/events/nrconference/index.html.

Media inquiries: Paul Childs, Craig Wallace’s office, on 0407 131 654, or Anna Cahill, Department of Natural Resources and Water on 3224 2653