DIRECT links between transport and climate change will be highlighted at a major conference being held in York next month.

The event will bring experts from across the country to the city, chosen because of its year-long dedication to the environment through the PlanetYork project.

Government transport minister David Jamieson will give the keynote speech at the conference, held in the Moat House Hotel, North Street, on November 26.

Presentations will be made by groups including the National Society for Clean Air and environmental consultants SustainAbility to delegates, who will be from businesses keen to find out how they can limit pollution.

Jonathan Murray, head of organisers TransportAction, said: "We want to give transport planners, transport policy officers, environmental managers and some fleet operators a real insight into the links between climate change and transport, and the practical solutions that can be taken."

Up to 200 delegates are expected to attend.

They will take part in workshops looking at topics including how to cut pollution from vehicles used by their businesses, and what range of energy efficient transport is available.

PlanetYork is designed to highlight links between energy waste and extreme climate events such as last year's floods in North Yorkshire.

Launched in August, it is a concentrated effort by partners including the Government-backed Energy Saving Trust, the Evening Press, and City of York Council, to make York the most energy efficient city in the UK, and an example that the whole world can follow.

And it aims to do it by highlighting how everybody can make a difference with only minor changes to their everyday lives.

Updated: 15:06 Tuesday, October 30, 2001