The carbon question

HORIZONS: Costing Carbon – just a tax or a new economic order? This is the theme of a free public seminar on Thursday at 1pm in the Greenhouse (the old Enfo), Andrews Street, Dublin.

Speakers include Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Eamon Ryan (right); economist Richard Douthwaite; Sue Scott from the ESRI; and Paul Harris, financial analyst with Bank of Ireland Global Markets. Questions will include how the cost of carbon can be worked into our economic system? Will we all get carbon rations and if so, will we be able to trade them? And, most importantly, will a carbon tax result in a change of behaviour and a new way of distributing wealth between the rich and the poor or will it be cynically used in an economic system that has already failed so many?

Countdown to Copenhagen

Eco-Unesco, the youth environmental organisation, is hoping to inform and energise young people aged between 15 and 18 at their National Youth Forum on November 25th in Dublin. Entitled What’s So Hot About Climate Change 2 – the Countdown to Copenhagen, the event will offer opportunities to learn more about climate change and give participants a chance to voice their own views. Advance registration on 01-6625491 or e-mail info@ecounesco.ie.

Crisis in historical context

Richard White, professor of American history at Stanford University, California, and a leading scholar of environmental history, will give a public talk on the historical precedents for consulting environmental crises on Wednesday, November 25th at 6pm at the Royal Irish Academy, 19 Dawson Street, Dublin. It will be followed by a discussion on how researchers in the humanities and social sciences might advance knowledge on how best to preserve our environment. Admission is free but booking essential – see ria.ie for details.

EYE ON NATURE

eol.org

This website, the Encyclopedia of Life, was set up in 2007 with the goal to provide comprehensive information on all the world’s plants, animals and micro-organisms. More than 170,000 pages have been authenticated by scientists while another 1.3 million pages await this esteemed status.