Inquiry into climate change: the "citizen's agenda"
Tackling climate change:  a chance to have YOUR views heard
Public  hearing  for  individuals
The House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee is
reaching out to individuals who want the opportunity to take part in the
debate about how each of us can make changes in our lifestyles and take
action to save energy and combat climate change. The Committee will hold a
public hearing at CRed, the Community Carbon Reduction Project, in Norwich
on 31 January 2007, and will be inviting interested individuals who have
strong views on the subject to take part in the session.

The session will be part of the Committee's inquiry into Climate change: the
"citizen's agenda".  The aim of the inquiry is to establish how individuals
and communities can be encouraged to help tackle climate change, and how
government can make greener choices easier.

Our  inquiry

Areas the Committee is interested in include:

..energy efficiency and reducing energy consumption

..low-carbon alternatives to traditional domestic energy sources, to cut CO2
emissions from the home

..microgeneration

..awareness of climate change and the role individuals can play

..the role of community projects in schools and other institutions

..the obstacles faced by people and households who are trying to make a
difference

 As part of its inquiry, the Committee is hearing from witnesses at
Westminster, including representatives of environmental organisations, local
government, academics, energy suppliers and regulators, professional bodies,
and retailers. The inquiry will conclude with evidence from Defra Ministers
and officials.

Format  for  the  public  hearing
The Committee also wishes to hear the views of individuals, who may not have
links to any representative organisation, but who do have experience of or a
strong interest in the issues the Committee is considering. The meeting at
CRed on 31 January 2007 is designed for this purpose.

The format of the meeting will allow each of about 12 people to make a short
opening statement (of no longer than five minutes), to the Committee. This
will give the Committee  the opportunity to  hear a range of views on the
"citizen's agenda", stimulate discussion, and allow time for a few questions
on each statement.

To maximise the time available, individuals will appear before the Committee
in groups of three or four.

The meeting will take place at CRed Norwich, Low Carbon Innovation Centre,
University of East Anglia, Norwich. Please follow the link below for a map:
http://www1.uea.ac.uk/print/home/about/gettinghere/Getting+to+UEA

How  to  have  YOUR  say
The Committee is inviting applications to give oral evidence at a public
hearing at CRed on the morning of 31 January 2007. The evidence session will
be recorded and the Committee will publish the transcript on the internet
and in print.

If you think you have something to say that would help the Committee's
inquiry and you are able to attend the meeting at CRed on 31 January, please
send a brief note (a side of A4 is enough), including your telephone number
and other contact details, to the address below. The note should:

..set out your background and experience

..let us know the kind of issue you would like to raise

The Committee will make a selection from the applications submitted and then
extend invitations to give oral evidence at the meeting.

The  deadline  for  applications  is  Wednesday  3  January  2007

The deadline for requests to give oral evidence is NOON on Wednesday 3
January 2007.

Applicants are reminded that the Committee may choose to treat the content
of applications as written evidence, making them publicly available on the
internet and in print. Applicants are also reminded that giving oral
evidence entails making a personal appearance before the Committee
(alongside other successful applicants) in public and on record.

Applications  may  be  submitted  in  the  following  ways:

Emails (including your telephone number) to: climate@parliament.uk

Please enter "Application to give oral evidence" in the subject line.

Hard copy (including your telephone number and other contact details) to:

'CRed evidence session'
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, House of Commons
Committee Office
7 Millbank
London SW1P 3JA

If you do not wish to appear before the Committee on 31 January but are
sending your comments on the "citizen's agenda", please say so at the
beginning of your note.

Please note that following consideration of the applications we will contact
successful applicants in the week commencing Monday 8 January 2007.

Thank you for the interest you have shown in this exercise. If you would
like further information about the Committee's work and current inquiries,
our website address is:
http://www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/environment__food_and_rura
l_affairs.cfm.


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