A Nobel Prize-winner, a U.S. Senator, a New York Times columnist and author, University administrators and leaders in business and education discussed their views on energy conservation at the 23rd annual Emerging Issues Forum Monday.

The forum was held in the McKimmon Center, with different speakers presenting throughout the day, and will continue Tuesday with additional speakers, including Governor Mike Easley.

Rajendra K. Pachauri, chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which shared the Nobel Prize last year with former Vice President Al Gore, spoke of climate change and the need to take action in limiting greenhouse gas emissions.

Pachauri earned a master’s and two doctoral degrees from N.C. State and said he was “glad to be back home in Raleigh.”

Using charts and graphs to support his claims, he said there is strong evidence of global warming and heightening temperatures.

“The rate of temperature increase has gone up in the past five decades,” he said.

And according to Pachauri, there can be many problems to follow these higher temperatures.

“Water supplies stored in the [polar] glaciers are projected to decline in the course of the century,” he said, which will bring a rise in sea level.

Climate change could also bring an increase in the frequency and severity of storm systems, which he said could be made worse from the rising of sea level. Pachauri acknowledged the tsunami that occurred two years ago as an example.

“When the sea level is one foot higher, the effects would be devastating,” he said.

But Pachauri said despite the statistics in his presentation, they were not meant to be depressing.

“It is well within the ability of human society to reduce emissions and mitigate them,” he said.

According to Tristan Mills, a junior in mechanical engineering who attended the event, the solutions discussed for energy conservation were not strong enough.

Mills said he agreed with Thomas Friedman, a columnist from the NY Times, that no one should be congratulating themselves just yet.

“[There was only] talk about a need for solutions and general solutions,” instead of substantive claims he could support, he said.

Friedman discussed the “green revolution,” and Chad Ray, a homebuilder for Olde Heritage Builders in Zebulon, NC, said it was one of the highlights of the forum.

“It was very exciting to hear Friedman because of his fire and intensity,” he said.

Ray also said that Senator Richard Burr was not specific enough in his discussions, using “a lot of blanket statements.”

John Felmy, chief economist for the American Petroleum Institute, spoke about the future of the oil industry.

Felmy said that while renewable resources will be expanded in the future, it is not plausible to expect them to replace oil anytime soon.

“We’re not going away,” he said, but added that natural gas will decrease in use in the next twenty years and coal will increase.

He also said people should consider the effects of changing to different sources of energy, using the example that if there were electricity-powered hybrid vehicles, the electricity needed would probably be made from coal technology.

Felmy was met with disdain by some of the crowd toward the end of his speech.

“We don’t make excessive profits,” he said, which was followed by laughter from the audience. “The numbers are big, but you have to put it in context.”

But Drew Boyuka, a freshman in computer science, said business minds would be important in finding solutions to energy issues, as those looking for entrepreneurial opportunity will have more at stake and get more accomplished than governmental intervention.

Ray said he came to the event because he is trying to be a leader in green-building, and that the whole day was useful.

“I learned a lot from all the speakers,” he said. “It was well worth it.”

Martin Rickerd, a consulate-general for the British government stationed in Atlanta, said he is currently working with North Carolina’s legislative commission on climate changes.

Rickerd came to renew contacts with the legislative commission and participate in the forums. He said there was a “very good spread of interests” represented.

“All the right issues were being discussed,” he said.

And as he looks forward to continued cooperation between the United Kingdom and North Carolina, he said the forum was useful for advancement.

“I wish all the states around the Southeast would have events like this,” he said.