cc: m.hulme@uea date: Tue, 31 Oct 2000 18:12:14 +0100 from: Annie Ogden subject: Tyndall update to: mjo@nerc.ac.uk, Lilian.Eldoufani@esrc.ac.uk, Lesley.Tracey@epsrc.ac.uk Dear all, Re: Tyndall Centre Launch Attaching and pasting below draft of general press release (one of several planned) to be sent out in advance of Tyndall launch - probably now on Monday. I'm in London tomorrow for ACACIA launch but back in the office on Thursday so please get in touch with any comments then. Annie Because of number of climate related stories piling up especially on the day before and the day of the launch, this is what I now propose as our strategy for media so we don't lose out on coverage: Oct/Nov (Background: weather stories - Mike Hulme lots of media coverage) November Wed 1 o Launch of ACACIA report on climate change in Europe - Mike Hulme one of authors. Wide media coverage expected. Thu 2 o Broads release (still working this up) to be sent to the Sunday paper/s - Tim O'Riordan (if no joy, try again as general release) Mon 6 o Send out general Tyndall press release and story on country by country analysis of emissions and impacts Wed 8 o ?Michael Meacher launches new DETR guide? - based on research to be reported in Nature tomorrow o ? Gordon Brown mini-budget - inc fuel tax? Thu 9 o Two strong climate stories in Nature (Hadley Centre) o Tyndall Centre launch - 11 to 2 o Pm - follow up opening - reporting anything Meacher announces?(IAN AT NERC FOLLOWING THIS UP - ANY NEWS? - or pic story of car? (URSULA AT NERC FOLLOWING THIS UP - ANY NEWS ON CAR?) New centre gets to grips with climate change As governments prepare for next week's climate conference in the Hague, a new national centre opens this week which aims to get to grips with global climate change - acknowledged by PM Tony Blair as the biggest threat to our environment. On Thursday (November 9), Environment Minister Michael Meacher will open the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change at the University of East Anglia, in Norwich. But the Centre is itself a model of the partnerships it will be promoting. It brings together scientific, technological and social know-how from nine partner higher education and research institutions to explore and develop radical new responses to climate change. Dr Mike Hulme, the Centre's Executive Director, said: "Society is at last waking up to climate change. What might once have been considered unusual weather conditions for the UK - last week's storms and flooding, for example - are likely to be much more frequent occurrences. "But we can see from the furore over fuel taxes that there are no easy solutions. The breadth of expertise in our consortium means we will be looking at these issues from all perspectives. We will be exploring, with all relevant stakeholders, new technologies, lifestyles, economic and regulatory measures that might help us manage climate change." The Tyndall Centre willprovide open access to the results of the ground-breaking research it will undertake, and is already forming partnerships across society to ensure a coherent all-inclusive response to the challenges we face. In addition to its base at UEA, in Norwich, the Centre has regional offices at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology and the University of Southampton. Other partners are the Universities of Cambridge, Cranfield, Sussex and Leeds, the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory and the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology. Funding for the Centre comes from the Natural Environment, the Economic and Social and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Councils, and it is also supported by the Government's Department of Trade and Industry. Ends Notes to editors: 1. UEA has the leading School of Environmental Sciences in the UK (top 5* grade research as assessed by Government). It is already home to the Climatic Research Unit, the Centre for Social and Economic Research on the Global Environment and the Jackson Environment Institute. 2. The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) is the UK's leading body for research, survey, monitoring and training in the environmental sciences. Its mission is to foster knowledge, understanding and prediction of the natural environment and its resources. 3. The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) funds research and training in social and economic issues. It provides high-quality, relevant research to business, the public sector and government. The ESRC invests around £46 million every year in social science research. 4. The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) funds research in sustainable development to the tune of over £30m a year. This includes research to promote high and stable levels of economic growth, combined with the prudent use of natural resources, effective protection of the environment and social progress. Attachment Converted: "c:\eudora\attach\tynd-gen11.doc" -- .................................................... Annie Ogden, Press and PR Manager University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ. Tel:+44 (0)1603 592764