A CLIMATE change conference, the first of its kind in Kent, is being held today.

Countryside charity, Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) has organised a public debate on how Kent is going to deal with climate change in the future.

The Tomorrow’s Kent meeting, which will be held at County Hall, Maidstone, will evaluate the potential damage and benefits a changing climate will bring to the county, and will be a forum on how to formulate the right responses.

The keynote speech will be given by Shaun Spiers, the national chief executive of the CPRE and among the organisations in attendance, include Kent County Council, the Environment Agency and the Kent Wildlife Trust.

CPRE Kent deputy director, Sean Furey, said. "Of all England's counties, Kent is set to be the most affected by climate change. We have the longest coastline, and much of it is low-lying, so we are at serious risk from rising sea levels. On top of that there is a growing intensity of competition for the use of our land.

"House building, commercial development and agriculture for food and biofuels would all be competing for a diminishing resource should we begin to lose land to the advancing sea."

He mentions, however, the potential benefits of climate change, such as an extended growing season for fruit farmers and its positive impact on the tourist industry.

Mr Furey added: "We must start working out our responses to all the elements, good and bad, of this unparalleled challenge that's what the Tomorrow's Kent event is for. It is the first event of its kind in Kent, bringing together experts, decision-makers and interest groups to thrash out the issues."