CLIMATE change campaigners will welcome three experts to present talks in Stroud to coincide with the Paris Climate Change conference.

Transition Stroud, which works to reduce the town’s reliance on fossil fuels and contribution to climate change, is hosting the event this Sunday, December 6 from 7pm – 9pm at Lansdown Hall.

The 21st Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change begins today and will run over the next two weeks coming to an end on Friday, December 11.

As negotiations continue and protesters gather in Paris, Transition Stroud presents Climate Talks: science, policy and activism from 1995-2015.

The event will feature presentations by three experts – Dr. Nick James, a geographer with research and teaching interests in development, environment and political ecology, Dr. Teresa Ashe, who recently completed her thesis on, The Politics of Climate Change: Power and Knowledge in Environmental Politics, at the University of London, Birkbeck College, and James Beecher – one of Transition Stroud’s volunteer Directors.

Dr. James, who is also active with Gloucestershire Climate Action Network, said: “Climate change is the international environmental problem for the 21st century, which calls upon the responsibility of all citizens of the world.

“The Paris Summit represents a juncture in the history of policy formation whereby effective and binding responses can and must be achieved.”

In addition to the presentations, Transition Stroud will screen video clips and films from the past 20 years of climate summits and protests, before a facilitated discussion about hopes and expectations for the conference in Paris and the actions concerned citizens should take after it concludes.

James said: “After three coaches of people from Stroud travelled to London for climate change protests last weekend we want to keep the momentum up and connect local people to events in Paris.

“We hope to bring messages from our supporters in Paris to the even next Sunday, and explore the issues critically as well as galvanising action.”