Sir, the current woes at the petrol pumps should serve to remind us that fossil fuels are a finite resource, and their preservation should be a priority for all of us. It was pleasing to read that measures were taken at the recent BDA Conference to use recycled materials and enable recycling of drinks containers. However, it is important to put these 'green' measures into context. The environmental impact of a large-scale event such as a conference is considerable, and the overwhelming majority of CO2 emissions resulting from the event will be generated from delegates and speakers travelling to and from the conference centre. By way of example, a recent environmental impact audit carried out on behalf of the rock group Radiohead showed that 86-97% of the total 'carbon footprint' of their concerts was related to attendees' travel to and from the venues (Best Foot Forward Ltd, Oxford, 2007).

The FDI, recognising the importance of these issues, webcasts presentations from the World Health Professions Alliance and the Annual World Dental Congress, thus obviating the need for many people to travel hundreds of miles to attend in person. The BDA has not as yet made such arrangements for their conferences, but are currently considering the possibility.

The use of technology to reduce unnecessary travel is to be applauded. The BDA, and all other dental organisations that organise events such as these, should make every effort to utilise this technology so that significant reductions in CO2 emissions may be made. Let us not forget that climate change is, in the words of the British Government, 'the greatest long-term challenge facing the world today. There is strong and indisputable evidence that climate change is happening and that man-made emissions are its main cause' (DEFRA, 2006).