Solving the South East's carbon problem!

Chaired two of the key sessions at the low carbon South East conference in Southampton today. The event at Southampton University brought together local government, the wider public sector, academia and the private sector to discuss how we can collectively tackle the issue of climate change and make an economic advantage from innovation and entrepreneurship in this area. The South East is the strongest performing area of the U.K.s economy but that also brings with it the problem of being the highest carbon creator.

Key speakers included Minister for Innovation, John Denham MP and Alan Whitehead MP, along with Councillor Paul Bettison, Chair of the LGA Environment Board. The audience of 200 delegates were also up for a debate and I had some fun in the Chair's role.

One of the key quotes for me was from Anthony Kleanthous of WWF when he said "it's getting the balance correct between saving the world and savouring it". Councillor Keith House the Leader of Eastleigh Council also spoke about how they intend to be carbon neutral as a Council by 2012, an ambitious target to say the least.