The 60th Annual DPI/NGO Conference to start today

06 September 2007 - The 60th Annual DPI/NGO Conference opened at United Nations Headquarters in New York yesterday and will run upto 7 September 2007. The conference which was opened by the UN Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro has more than 2,000 representatives of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) from over 80 countries attending, who are expected to attend roundtables, panels and workshops during the 3-day event. The Conference will review the scientific evidence on climate change, including its consequences on indigenous peoples, water security, land use and the politics of energy.

Organised by the United Nations Department of Public Information (DPI) in collaboration with the NGO/DPI Executive Committee, the Conference aims to facilitate individual action plans that address the threat of catastrophe posed by climate change and inspire participants to take action to mitigate - and in some cases - reverse the effects of this environmental crisis.

The 60th Annual DPI/NGO Conference website is specially designed to create a global forum for ensuring the widest possible exchange of views and experiences. It hosts live webcasts of all plenary sessions, which will be archived and available within the Webcast page. Online participants can join the discussion by submitting questions to the speakers via the Forum page. The site also features conference programmes, special events, midday workshops, details of speakers, youth initiatives, as well as other resources for conference participants and the media. Hopefully, the website will cultivate a network of contacts to engage all. Please use it as a tool that gives you an opportunity to act.