Greenpeace co-founder to visit McMaster

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/Moore_Patrick.jpg” caption=”Patrick Moore, Greenspirit Strategies chair.”]Patrick Moore,Greenpeace co-founder and now chair and chief scientist, Greenspirit Strategies, will be speaking on “Searching for a Sustainable Energy Future” at McMaster on Wednesday, March 29 in Burke Science Building (BSB), Room B135 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Moore's free, public address will focus on the scientific evidence showing nuclear power to be an environmentally sound and safe choice of energy.

Nuclear energy is the only non-greenhouse-gas-emitting power source that can effectively replace fossil fuels and satisfy global energy demand. Yet it's clear to Moore that much of the environmental movement has lost its way, caught up in politically correct ideology and stooping to sensationalism to garner support.

“There is now a great deal of scientific evidence showing nuclear power to be an environmentally sound and safe choice,” states Moore in his lecture abstract.

According to the Clean Air Council, annual power plant emissions are responsible for 36 percent of carbon dioxide, 64 percent of sulfur dioxide, 26 percent of nitrogen oxides and 33 percent of mercury emissions. These four pollutants cause significant environmental impact, including acid rain, smog, respiratory illness, mercury contamination, and are the major contributors to greenhouse gas emissions.”

Moore believes there should be a much greater emphasis on renewable energy production. The two most important renewable energy technologies are wind energy, which has great potential, and ground-source heat pumps, known as geothermal or GeoExchange.

Moore has been a leader in the international environmental field for over 30 years. He is a co-founder of Greenpeace and served for nine years as president of Greenpeace Canada and seven years as a Director of Greenpeace International. As the leader of many campaigns, he was a driving force shaping policy and direction while Greenpeace became the world's largest environmental activist organization.

In recent years, Moore has focused on the promotion of sustainability and consensus building among competing concerns. He was a member of British Columbia government-appointed Round Table on the Environment and Economy from 1990 – 1994.

In 1990, he founded and chaired the BC Carbon Project, a group that worked to develop a common understanding of climate change. Moore currently serves as Chair and Chief Scientist of Greenspirit Strategies, a consultancy focusing on environmental policy and communications in forestry, agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture, mining, biodiversity, energy and climate change.

The lecture is being co-hosted by the Faculty of Engineering, Department of Engineering Physics, Dofasco Centre for Engineering and Public Policy, and the Canadian Nuclear Society (Golden Horseshoe Branch).