Munk Debates to tackle climate change on the eve of the U.N. Copenhagen<br>Summit

    
    Bjorn Lomborg, Lord Nigel Lawson, George Monbiot and Elizabeth May debate
    the merits and pitfalls of global climate change policy
    

TORONTO, Oct. 15 /CNW/ - Peter and Melanie Munk announced today the resolution and presenters for the fourth semi-annual Munk Debate to be held in Toronto on Tuesday, December 1st.

The fourth Munk Debate will explore the opportunities and hazards of the global response to climate change by debating the resolution: "Climate change is mankind's defining crisis, and demands a commensurate response."

Arguing for an ambitious global response to climate change is acclaimed environmental activist and Guardian columnist George Monbiot. His bestselling book, Heat: How to Stop the Planet Burning, outlines how large-scale reductions in carbon emissions are necessary and achievable by modern economies. He will be joined by Elizabeth May. Leader of the Green Party of Canada, May was named in 2006 by the United Nations as one of the world's leading women environmentalists.

Opposing a robust international response to climate change is Bjorn Lomborg, professor at Copenhagen Business School and acclaimed author of The Skeptical Environmentalist and Cool It, two influential books questioning the social and financial costs of climate change mitigation. He will be joined by Lord Nigel Lawson, former Chancellor of the Exchequer of the United Kingdom, and author of the bestselling book An Appeal to Reason: A Cool Look at Global Warming.

Although Monbiot and Lomborg are well acquainted with each other's work, this is the first time they will come face-to-face for a public debate. It's sure to be a heated discussion.

Rudyard Griffiths, the director and moderator of the Munk Debates, comments: "By holding our debate six short days in advance of the Copenhagen climate change summit we aim to inform Canadians about one of the great public policy debates of our time: what should be the global response to climate change?"

Viewers worldwide can watch the debate via our live webstream. For more information on the Munk Debates including ticket information, the live webstream, biographical notes for presenters appearing at the December debate, and past debate proceedings visit: www.munkdebates.com.

For further information: Sherry Naylor, MDG & Associates for the Munk Debates, [email protected], [phone]