This conference in our nations capital is bringing together leading scientists and thinkers to address NGOs, decisionmakers and private citizens on how these challenges are linked, and what sort of frameworks can affect change.

The opening evening (May 7) will begin with cocktail and hors'doevres reception with talks by Bill McKibben and Roger Bezdek followed by audience Q&A.

Monday morning will be about production and geological constraints. Talks from Roscoe Bartlett, Michael Klare, Kenneth Deffeyes will be followed by a panel discussion led by Richard Heinberg.

Monday afternoon will be about the demand challenges facing the planet, including planetary sinks and population. William Catton, Lester Brown and NASA's James Hansen will each speak followed by a discussion and a talk by ecological economist Robert Costanza, on a Sustainable Energy Framework.

During dinner, a speech on renewable fuel by Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer will be followed by a 'town meeting' type open discussion with Joseph Tainter, David Blittersdorf, Ken Deffeyes, Cutler Cleveland and others.

Tuesday, we will address the 'opportunities' available to face the peaking in energy. The Minister of Sustainable Development from Sweden, Mona Sahlin, will discuss Swedens announcement to become petroleum free by 2020. We will then hear talks on how to appropriately compare new energy technologies from a panel of experts, including NRDC's Dan Lashof, Cutler Cleveland, Charles Hall, and David Pimentel.

In the afternoon, we will address opportunities for reduction in energy demand. Julian Darley of Post Carbon Institute will moderate a panel of Herman Daly, Richard Heinberg (who will present The Oil Depletion Protocol), Pat Murphy of Community Solutions and others.

We hope to have significant media coverage of this event, and expand the message of the linkages between peak oil and the environment to a broader audience. Please join us in what looks to be a controversial and watershed event in Washington DC. Registration details and other conference information is at www.beyondpeak.org.