19 September 2006 - Green Party Euro-MP Caroline Lucas is to host a public meeting on climate change and ‘peak oil’ during a four-day visit to Brighton and Hove for the Green Party’s annual conference, which takes place at Hove Town Hall from Thursday (September 21st ) through to Sun day (September 24th )

The city’s Green MEP – and the Party’s Principal Speaker – will also launch reports into bird ‘flu, the region’s economy and the effect of dwindling oil reserves on our food systems, as well as delivering a keynote speech at 10.30am on Saturday (September 23rd ).

"I am delighted the Green Party is holding its conference in Brighton and Hove again – it’s a wonderful city, with one of the highest Green votes in the country, and it is right in the heart of my South-East England constituency.” said Dr Lucas.

“Most of the events, speeches and discussions are open to public ‘observers’ and I am looking forward to meeting local activists and campaigners both from within and beyond the Green Party.”

“Brighton and Hove has become a regular host of party political conferences, not only injecting a boost to the local economy but giving the city’s residents a chance to really engage with the political process. As a Green, I warmly welcome this, as we know that our vote share increases dramatically when voters get a chance to meet us and discuss our policies on peace, freedom , social justice and sustainability.”

The public meeting, with Roger Cray-Osborne and Brighton resident Stephen Watson from peak oil campaign group Powerswitch speaking alongside Dr Lucas, is free – and open to all. It will discuss the problem of dwindling oil and gas reserves alongside the urgency of cutting greenhouse gas emissions to stave off the worst impacts of climate change – and observe that the answer to each problem is the same: reverse our dependence on fossil fuels.

The conference itself is based around two themes: social enterprise and education.

ENDS