A BOURNEMOUTH lecturer is set to discuss issues of climate change and plastic pollution at a public speech.

Professor Rick Stafford, from Bournemouth University's marine biology and conservation department, will address these issues in the first of a series of free lectures at the RNLI College, in Poole.

The talks will be launched on Thursday February 13 and will be titled: ‘Addressing the environmental crisis: from reusable coffee cups to political reform, what really works?’

Using his research, Rick plans to tell audiences that plastic pollution is a real threat, but that it has been overemphasised to maintain its economic and political status.

He has previously found that climate change and biodiversity loss need large changes to be successfully tackled, but said that nature-based solutions such as tree planting and a respect for nature are also important.

Rick, from the Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, said: “It’s vital we address the environmental crisis properly in the very near future. This talk will bring together my research over the last two years and present a timely message that it’s not too late to act, and give a positive vision of what the future could be like if we do.”

“It’s very timely, and hopefully it will inspire people to support the necessary changes we need at local, national and international levels.”

The Fusion Professorial Lecture Series is free and open to the public, with six planned throughout the year to cover a wide range of topics from Bournemouth University academics.

The first talk takes place at 6.30pm, and tickets can be bought at www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/addressing-the-environmental-crisis-from-reusable-coffee-cups-to-political-reform-what-really-works-tickets-90596457443.