One mention of Al Gore and it's well known what's coming. But what many Bay residents probably don't know is one of our own has learnt about the world's climate change pressures from him.

Now she's going to talk to us here in Tauranga all about the global challenges and solutions required to address climate change.

Michelle Elborn.

Michelle Elborn will be speaking at Tauranga City Council chambers on March 7 from 12 noon-1pm in a session called ‘A Message from Al Gore' as part of Sustainable Backyards 2016.

'I was lucky enough to attend the Climate Reality Leadership Programme last year which is a programme led by Al Gore,” says Michelle.

The sustainability advisor for TCC went to Miami as one of 1200 participants from 87 different countries, where Al Gore shared his presentation resources with participants for them to use in their local communities.

'He personally presented at least half of all three days training and was an extremely inspiring presenter. In addition, there were a wide range of climate change experts sharing their knowledge”

Once home each participant is required to undertake a minimum of 10 leadership acts back in their local communities.

'Leadership acts are things like media engagements, public presentations, awareness events etc,” says Michelle, who believes Kiwis often think climate change is too big and too complex to tackle in our backyard.

'That's the default for most people – but climate change is a global issue.”

At March 7's talk, Michelle will use Al Gore's presentation materials to share the global perspective on climate change.

'[This includes] the trends in changing global temperatures, the impacts this is causing – for example, heatwaves, intensified storm conditions, sea level rise, droughts, fire etc.

'It also covers one of the big solutions/shifts to renewable energy – mainly solar and wind generation. It is very much the global context, rather than New Zealand-specific.”

Following Michelle's talk, a Climate Change Speakers Forum and Movie at Baycourt is on April 1 from 7pm-9.30pm

'This will feature climate change experts and will include a discussion panel which I'm sure will have a New Zealand focus.

'So my talk is perhaps a nice lead in to the speakers' forum,” says Michelle.

For more information on Michelle's talk, email [email protected]