Will Climate Change the World?

The Caribbean and parts of Asia are being battered by ever more violent hurricanes. Bangladesh has been suffering from torren-tial floods for months. In Central Europe the temperatures creep higher almost every year. Where is humanity heading with its climate?

Are these events simply insignificant fluctuations in the history of our planet’s development or are we really witnessing a change of cli-mate? The scientific community is not agreed on this. Is there a need for action, or should we continue just to observe? These issues are the subject of the Third Dialogue on Science being held by the Aca-demia Engelberg from 29 September to 1 October 2004 in Engelberg.

Sounding out the arguments

Leading international climate researchers, environmentalists and rep-resentatives of industry will discuss their conflicting standpoints. In five workshops, strategic approaches will be sought in an effort to find “Op-tions for a post-Kyoto policy”, the “Role of global companies”, “Oppor-tunities and risks of developing countries”, “Is what we know today enough to act?” and “Does society have to adapt to change or should the polluter factors be rooted out?”.

Involvement of budding young scientists

Twenty young scientists from 17 countries around the world will fol-low the scientific debate at the conference. In the run-up to the con-ference, they have already prepared a basic policy paper and a set of proposals on what climate problems in their view need to be urgently addressed. They will have the opportunity to present this programme of action on the last day of the conference.

The Third Dialogue on Science of the Academia Engelberg takes place from 29 September to 1 October 2004 in Engelberg. Representatives from the worlds of science, business, politics and society will take part by personal in-vitation. The participants want to contribute their part to an open dialogue between science and the general public. The results of the conference are available on the internet (www.academia-engelberg.ch).

On Wednesday, 29 September 2004, a Public Evening will also be held on the subject of “Climate and Tourism: Change or Destruction?”. Interested members of the public are invited. Start 20.00 h in the Hotel Europe in Engelberg, admission is free.

Dialogue on Science is climate neutral

The Third Dialogue on Science of the Academia Engelberg, addressing the question “Will Climate Change the World?”, ac-cepts its own responsibility for climate. Compensation for all greenhouse gas emissions that arise as a result of the confer-ence will be provided in the form of a climate protection pro-ject. These emissions include in particular the emissions gen-erated not only by participants’ travel to and from the confer-ence by air, road or rail, but also by the catering and disposal of waste. Since these emissions cannot be avoided, the Aca-demia Engelberg is supporting a project in Eritrea with the help of the “myclimate” organization by way of compensation. To-gether with a local company, “myclimate” is producing 200 so-lar panels for water heating. The systems will be installed in six schools and hospitals in Eritrea. They will therefore no longer have to heat their warm water with the kerosene or elec-trical equipment that has a negative impact on the climate. This will prevent the further emissions of climate-damaging gases.

You can find further information on the activities of “myclimate” at www.myclimate.org.