A Special Lecture by Dr Rolph Payet, Joint Winner of the Nobel Peace Prize

Lecture titled 'Countdown to Copenhagen: What Next for Climate Change and International Development'

London (PRWeb UK) May 25, 2009 -- Dr Rolph Payet, joint winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 with (former US Vice President) Al Gore, as Lead Author on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, will be giving a special lecture in London on Thursday 28 May 2009, at 5pm.

The lecture on Climate Change and International Development, entitled 'Countdown to Copenhagen: What Next for Climate Change and International Development,' will be held at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. It will mark the launch of CeDEP's (Centre for Development, Environment and Policy) distance learning module entitled 'Climate Change and Development'.

An alumnus of the University of London External System, as well as special advisor on the Environment to the President of Seychelles, Dr Rolph Payet continues to work towards advancing issues on climate change and biodiversity. His work on global oceans and island policy has achieved international recognition and he has been invited personally by the UN Secretary General to address a high level panel at the UN General Assembly.

Dr Payet said: "Many people think the problem of climate change will just go away. Many consumers are now aware, but we still lack political commitment at an international level. The scientific evidence is overwhelming; we need decisive action by world leaders."

And this is what Dr Payet is working towards: "I want to bring the corporate world on board and my knowledge of economics and business will come in handy, as it helps me to relate to their way of thinking and how we can search for practical solutions to some of the emerging environmental issues."

As well as graduating from the University of London External System with a Postgraduate Certificate in Applied Environmental Economics, Dr Payet also has a PhD in Environmental Science from the University of Kalmar, Sweden, among many other qualifications from institutions around the world.

'Countdown to Copenhagen' is being hosted by the University of London External System (http://www.londonexternal.ac.uk/), the London International Development Centre (http://www.lidc.org.uk/) (LIDC), and the Centre for Development, Environment and Policy (http://www.soas.ac.uk/cedep/) (CeDEP) at SOAS, University of London.

Photographers and Journalists are welcome to attend.

Lecture details are as follows:

Date: Thursday 28 May

Time: 5pm-7pm

Location: John Snow Lecture Theatre

London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

Keppel Street

London WC1E 7HT

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Notes for Editors

* The University of London was established in 1836 and is one of the oldest, largest and most diverse universities in the United Kingdom.

* The University's founding principle is to provide education for all, irrespective of race, creed or political belief.

* In 1858, the University of London was granted its fourth Charter, which paved the way for the establishment of the University of London External System.

* The University of London External System is a unique global network of 45,000 students in 180 countries, on more than 100 study programmes ranging from social sciences to law to health.

* The External System has been instrumental in the formation of British higher education - all English and Welsh universities founded between 1849-1949 offered University of London degrees before obtaining charters to award their own.

* Between 1946-1970, the External System played a significant role in establishing many Commonwealth universities under a unique scheme of 'special relations'.

* Through the External System higher education was made available to a much wider range of social classes; it pre-empted 20th Century developments in open, flexible and distance learning by more than 100 years.

* Famous former students and alumni of the External System include six Nobel Prize Winners: Sir Frederick Gowland Hopkins, Ronald Coase, Wole Soyinka, Derek Walcott, Nelson Mandela and Rolph Payet.

* To find out more about the External System:

- www.londonexternal.ac.uk

* Bringing together social and natural scientists from across the University of London's six Bloomsbury Colleges, LIDC undertakes original interdisciplinary research and training to tackle complex problems in international development.

* Part of the School of Oriental and African Studies, CeDEP undertakes research and postgraduate teaching in the fields of applied economics, environment and biodiversity, and sustainability and development.

For further information contact:

Binda Rai

Head of Global Media and Public Relations

University of London External System

Email: binda.rai(at)london.ac.uk

Tel: +44 (0)20 7862 8545 (office)

+44 (0)7920 476483 (mobile)

Peter Quinn

Senior Communications Manager

University of London External System

Email: peter.quinn(at)london.ac.uk

Tel: +44 (0)20 7664 5584 (office)

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