ENVIRONMENTAL experts will join a North-East conference to prepare for this year's International Earth Summit.

Georgina Ayres and Jo Phillips, of the United Nations' environment and development forum, will address the conference, which will bring together local experts and community representatives at Newcastle Civic Centre today.

The event will cover preparations being made for this summer's International Earth Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, where world leaders will come together under the banner of sustainable development.

The conference will focus on how local communities can become involved.

Steve Graham, Sunderland City Council's sustainability coordinator, who will jointly chair the event, said: "Here in Sunderland we have already signed up to an international agreement to do all we can to reduce the local factors which lead to global warming.