Supporting Jim: Saunders, Oram and Salinger on tour

With James Hansen arriving in New Zealand next week to tour much (but not all) of the country talking climate action and coal, three NZ-based climate experts have announced a regional speaking tour designed to complement Hansen’s efforts. Climate scientist Jim Salinger will be joined by Professor Caroline Saunders from Lincoln University (well-known for her work on the carbon footprinting of agricultural exports) and business commentator Rod Oram to present a session on “Maintaining farm productivity and profits in an uncertain climate”. They’ll explain:

…the nature of climate change, its impacts on New Zealanders’ health, properties, infrastructure, environment and rural industries. They will bring the latest information on climate change science and how it affects rural industries in regional New Zealand.

They’ll be visiting Wanganui, Hawera, New Plymouth, Stratford, Gisborne, Napier and Hastings in May, with visits to Northland, Bay of Plenty/Waikato, Nelson/Marlborough, South Canterbury and Westland planned for July/August. Sounds like a very worthwhile session for anyone with an interest in agriculture, climate and New Zealand’s future. Schedule below the fold…

16th May

• Wanganui District Council 10 am – 12 noon, Council Chambers War Memorial Hall Concert Chamber
• South Taranaki District Council 2 – 4 pm, Hawera
• New Plymouth District Council 7 – 9 pm, Council Chambers

17th May

• Taranaki Regional Council, Stratford, 11 – 11.30 am then lunch

23rd May

• Gisborne District Council 10 am – 12 noon, Lawson Field Theatre

24th May

• Hawkes Bay Regional Council, Napier 10.30 am – 12.30 pm, Ballroom War
  Memorial, Centre Marine Parade
• Hastings District Council, Hastings 1.30 – 3.30 pm Hastings DC Council
  Chambers, Hastings

More about the talk (from the press release):

Dr Jim Salinger will speak on the latest information on climate change
science and its impacts on farming and communities in the New Zealand and
local context.

Professor Caroline Saunders will speak on what all this means for
agricultural trade, greenhouse gas emissions and what practical and
cost-effective steps farmers can take in reducing their emissions whilst
improving their economic viability and business opportunities in a
changing world.

Rod Oram will talk on emissions trading and compare New Zealand’s climate
change targets with our trading partners’ targets, and what this means
for agricultural trade.