Brisbane at the centre of global climate change debate

Leading geographers from around the world are preparing for a Brisbane brainstorm on ways of dealing with climate change.

A distinguished geographer from The University of Queensland, Emeritus Professor John Holmes, will chair the biennial conference of the International Geographical Union in Brisbane next month.

Professor Holmes said it was the world’s premier gathering of geographers, and would attract more than 900 geographers – including more than 700 from overseas.

He said the conference would highlight how complex, global-scale processes exerted pressures on environmental, social, cultural and economic resources at regional and local scales.

“It will look at regional responses in a changing world, with emphasis on tropical and arid zones, particularly in Australia, New Zealand, South-East Asia and the south-west Pacific,” he said.

Professor Holmes said another major conference theme would focus on monitoring and measuring regional changes in climate and assessing their probable impacts and alternative strategies in response to these changes.

He said other conference sessions would highlight strategies to minimise the negative impacts of resource exploitation in the region, including deforestation, land degradation, desertification and over-fishing.

“Increasingly attention is focused on means of enhancing regional and local capabilities to minimise negative outcomes and enhance social, cultural and environmental values,” he said.

“Constructive responses are dependent upon good governance, as clearly revealed by the recent problems in the Solomon Islands.”

Professor Holmes emphasised that a wide array of other issues of public concern would be covered at the conference sessions, with 800 papers delivered over five days.

“Much initial work was undertaken by geographers from Australia and New Zealand, the two host countries, to have Brisbane as the host city and to attract a large number of overseas registrations,” Professor Holmes said.

Professor Holmes said the International Geographical Union had a strong European representation, with conferences usually held in or near Europe. He said the 2004 conference was held in Glasgow, while the two conferences after Brisbane will be held in Tunisia and Israel.

Before the main conference, the International Geography Olympiad will be held. Organised by the Royal Geographical Society of Queensland, the Olympiad will test the geographical knowledge and skills of senior school teams from 22 countries, including capabilities in undertaking field work and map interpretation.

The International Geographical Union 2006 Brisbane Conference, “Regional Responses to Global Changes. A view from the Antipodes”, will be held from July 3-7, at the Queensland University of technology (QUT), Gardens Point Campus, Brisbane, Queensland.

For further information go to the IGU 2006 Brisbane Conference website: www.igu2006.org

Media contact: Emeritus Professor John Holmes: j.holmes@uq.edu.au Telephone: +61 7 33712638; Fax: +61 7 33712638.