Fossil fuel dependence, resource depletion and global financial uncertainty were among issues discussed at a public meeting and seminar in Alexandra on Saturday.
Held by the Clutha River Forum, the seminar titled "Adapting to Our Rapidly Changing World" highlighted what participants consider to be "urgent and necessary actions to address the issues that are negatively impacting our world," forum co-ordinator Lewis Verduyn said.
Guest speakers at the seminar included David Beach from Neptune Power, who spoke about energy, Kennedy Graham from the Green Party, who spoke on economics, Timaru District Councillor Steve Earnshaw from Transition Towns and Dugald MacTavish from Hampden Community Energy, who spoke on community sustainability.
Dr Beach talked about the declining availability and increasing price of fossil fuel and why he thought New Zealand should move towards a "clean energy economy".
Dr Graham talked about how cheap energy had fuelled economic growth and even though that was no longer affordable, we still pursued that growth and offset rising costs with increasing debt.
Dr Earnshaw and Mr MacTavish talked about how globalisation and free trade has reduced the ability of communities to supply their own products and how communities could adapt in positive ways by becoming more self reliant.
"We can't deny that all natural systems upon which human life depends are deteriorating," forum member Brian Turner said.
"In order for perpetual economic growth to be possible, the world would need to be flat and infinite. So our Government must think that the world is flat," Mr Verduyn said.
About 30 people from throughout the lower South Island attended the seminar.
Another seminar on the same topics, titled "Fronting Up to Our Deteriorating World", will be held in Dunedin on October 13, in the Castle 1 Lecture Theatre, University of Otago, 7pm-10.30pm.
