One of the newest kids on the block at the 2007 Newcastle Green Festival is the Climate Dome which is a “must see” for the skeptics as well as the converts.

Boldly challenging northeasterners to change tomorrow today, the Climate Dome will engage the doubters as well as the believers on the issue of carbon dioxide emissions.

But one does not have to be a philosopher or environmental scientist to understand the complexities of global warming because the Climate Dome does that with easy-to-understand and addictive hands-on interactive exhibits that makes the science child's play.

More than 12,000 people are expected to attend the two-day festival in Leazes Park on Saturday June 9 and Sunday June 10.  Saturday is fun for the whole family from noon to 6 pm and Sunday is the main festival day from noon to 10 pm.

At the heart of the rationale of the Climate Dome is the need to use “green” energy.  Event Coordinator Richard Littlewood said this is exactly what the 13-year old Green Festival has been challenged to do.

"This year's festival will be providing the full range of family, environmental, and musical activities that people have come to expect but this year we have really pulled out all the stops to try and make this a carbon neutral event,” he said.

The more than 90 musicians that will perform all rely on electricity to power their equipment on the four music stages while over 100 exhibitors need power for lighting and cooling.

Mr Littlewood said that the 100 kilowatts of power required over the two days of the festival will be powered totally by green energy; some by solar energy, but the majority by generators which will be fuelled by biodiesel produced from vegetable cooking oil – the equivalent of two months' supply for 25 homes.

“Instead of pouring that down the drain, we are lighting up the Green Festival and reducing our carbon emissions.”

Along with a cup of tea and scones at the Social Centre's cafe, there will be light background music, that is, if anyone cares to pedal for it. The sound system will be powered by pedalling on a special bike which makes up the third source of green and clean energy.

The annual Newcastle Green Festival is the UK's biggest free environmental festival which showcases new and evolving practical, sensible and cost-effective lifestyles designed to safeguard the Earth and its inhabitants.