A CONFERENCE on the challenges of climate change saw around 100 people pack the Winchester Discovery Centre yesterday and today.

The two-day event was the first of its kind in the city and saw a host of speakers debate how society can reduce carbon emissions and stave off catastrophic global heating.

Today Peter Harper, of the Centre for Alternative Technology, said very few people were fully aware of the problem while most others don't yet care.

"There are still lots of sceptics, most people are sceptical to the point of being ostriches. They don't want to know."

He said most were wedded to the pillars of bourgeois life: homes heated to 20 degrees; a car; eating meat and dairy products and a foreign holiday every year.

Even Green-minded people often leave heavy carbon footprints: living in big houses, commuting to work, visiting family, having children and pets, and getting divorced.

Yesterday Labour MP Alan Simpson said: "Human existence has never been at a more critical turning point. Saying this is not a counsel of despair.

"Never have we had so much at our fingertips that would make it possible for a genuine transformation of how societies work, living better but living differently."

Mr Simpson said the UK could learn from Germany which is hoping to meet all of its renewable energy needs by 2050.

He added: “Most energy companies hate the idea of paying citizens for ‘clean’ energy that we generate for ourselves. That is why there has been such opposition to ambitious plans to deliver 10-15 per cent of our energy from renewable sources by 2020.

“Germany already exceeds this figure and their citizens love it. By 2050 they intend to meet all their energy needs from renewable sources. The UK could do the same. Some of this could come from technologies that are 20 years old or longer.”

The event was organised by Winchester Action on Climate Change, (WinACC), the University of Southampton and Cap & Share UK.

It continues today (Nov 21) from 9am until 4.30pm at the centre on Jewry Street.