Climate and Energy: Does Canada need an Energy Strategy? (Part 1)

Energy drives life. Energy use has been a great advantage to our species. However, we are moving toward a compelling predicament as our societies thrive and our population grows. With population growth our energy needs increase. Our current sources of energy are thought by many to be leading to harmful climate change – and at the same time they are depleting at a rate we find discomforting. The consequences to our complex society and to other life forms on earth are uncertain. Do Alberta and Canada need an energy strategy to guide us in our challenge? Global society is seemingly coming to an energy supply and use crisis: how much energy, produced how, in which location and how distributed. The present system of energy supply and distribution based on uncoordinated short term ventures will not be adequate for our future needs. Energy supply and use begs for integrated planning over the long term. The size and nature of the infrastructure required does not allow for abrupt changes. The time for thoughtful knowledge driven planning and action is now. Our two speakers will address these issues, making cases for a long term energy strategy and a basis for rational implementation. Speakers: Kent Peacock and Cosmos Voutsinos Dr. Peacock attained his PhD in Philosophy from the University of Toronto in 1991. In 1996 he joined the University of Lethbridge. His special interests are professional ethics, environmental issues and foundations of physics. These interests impelled his inquiry into issues related to acquiring and applying energy to the needs of modern global society. Mr. Voutsinos is a professional mechanical engineer who graduated with a B.Sc. from the University of Waterloo and with a M.Sc. from McMaster University. Mr. Voutsinos has worked internationally in the field of energy conversion to electrical energy. He has developed keen insight into global and local energy issues and how policy might be established to guide effective and economic energy development.