With stories of polar bears drowning in ice-free arctic waters and the recent awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to former Vice President Al Gore for his efforts to heighten awareness about its potential impacts, climate change is now receiving a great deal of media attention.
The topic is more than a news story from far away locations, however. Climate change can have real environmental, economic and social implications for Delaware.
Sustainable Solutions to Climate Change in Delaware, a daylong conference that will review the scientific facts about climate change and discuss practical policy and design solutions that can be employed by local governments, architects and the building community, will be held Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2007, at the University of Delaware’s Hugh R. Sharp Campus in Lewes. The conference is sponsored by the Delaware Sea Grant Marine Advisory Service, Delaware chapter of the American Institute for Architects (AIA), Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, and Sustainable Delaware — a chapter of the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association.
“It is well-known that buildings require energy and materials that produce by-product greenhouse gases,” said Jim Falk, director of the Marine Advisory Service and co-chair of the conference. “This conference will help architects, design professionals, developers, public officials and community leaders become better informed and more knowledgeable about actions that need to be taken now to slow the rate of greenhouse gas emissions.”
The program will begin with a welcome by local officials, including remarks from Gov. Ruth Ann Minner. National experts will then discuss the implications of climate change on the state and review several ongoing state and regional approaches to the problem. Delaware officials and business leaders will discuss the scope of the problem for the design community and policies that will impact the business of design in the future.
“The focus of the conference is sustainable solutions, both in terms of policy and design, to global climate change,” noted conference co-chair, John Mateyko of the American Institute of Architects.
Conference registration is $65. Registration is $95 for AIA members wishing to receive six health, safety and welfare (HSW) continuing education units (CEUS). Fees include continental breakfast, luncheon, networking reception and conference materials.
The deadline for registration is Monday, Dec. 3, 2007. To register, contact Rita Baty at 302-645-4346 or rbaty@udel.edu. For more information visit www.ocean.udel.edu/seagrant/climatechange/brochure.html.
For more information about UD’s College of Marine and Earth Studies, visit www.ocean.udel.edu. For more information about Delaware Sea Grant, visit www.ocean.udel.edu/seagrant.