The Centre For Alternative Technology (aka CAT) in Machynlleth has been highlighting a greener way of living for over thirty years. In the last week it has been playing host to an international seminar on climate change, and ways of reducing our dependence on fossil fuels. In this week's Science Cafe Adam Walton visits CAT, gets a guided tour of their new WISE building, catches up with delegates from the climate change seminar and chats to the Welsh Assembly Government's Environment Minister about the new climate strategy for Wales, which has just been launched.

Adam meets Paul Allen CAT's external relations director to discuss the work of the centre and its vision for a zero carbon Britain.

Adam also meets Environment Minister Jane Davidson, who chose CAT as the launch pad for the new climate strategy for Wales, which is also the first for the UK.

Running across the last week was the 2010 "low carbon scenarios" seminar by INFORSE-Europe, the the International Network For Sustainable Energy, which brought together delegates from several countries to debate priorities and plans for moving towards a future where we use 100% renewable resources. Adam meets Gunnar Oleson and Cecile Godinho who discuss how Denmark and Portugal are tackling the move towards a more sustainable future.

We get a guided tour of the new WISE building (Wales Institute for Sustainable Education) which has been built using timber and hemp-lime. Pat Borer, the building's architect, explains the idea behind WISE and how it can be an inspiration to the students who will be studying green building techniques there.

We also hear from CAT's media officer Kim Bryan who is one of the resident community. Kim explains her experience of adjusting to low-impact living.

Links

CAT

INFORSE-Europe

Climate strategy (Welsh Assembly Government)

Feed-in tariffs (Energy Saving Trust)