Upcoming Events
Rod Quantock climate comedy (Melbourne, Mar 25- April 16): Comedian and climate advocate Rod Quantock is his new show 'The People We Should Eat First (and how to cook them)' opens in Melbourne. According to Rod, 'Take one Tony Abbott, fillet, remove budgies and bake. Sound delicious? No. Well how about braised Bolt on toast followed by grilled Garrett au hypocrite? Or perhaps barbequed Brumby with a side of mashed Minchin washed down with a glass of Bronwyn’s bile?' Rod Quantock will be performing this comedy at the Victorian Trades Hall, Cnr Lygon & Victoria Sts, Carlton for the Melbourne Comedy Festival from Thu 25 March – Fri 16 April. Tickets are around $20 and available from comedyfestival.com.au, Ticketmaster 1300 660 013 or at the door.
Copenhagen climate targets: Dr Frank Jotzo (Canberra, March 23): Following the Copenhagen Accord, countries representing over 80 per cent of global emissions have announced their (legally not binding) targets for cutting greenhouse gas emissions. How ambitious are these pledges, and how do they stack up in comparison? Dr Jotzo presents new analysis that puts the targets on a common footing, and compares them across different dimensions. Most countries are on track for moderate rather than strong climate action. But a number of large developing countries, including China, have made ambitious pledges. Looking at emissions intensity of the economy, business-as-usual trajectories, and per-capita emissions, Copenhagen targets by some developing countries are on par with US and EU commitments. An implication for Australia is that the government’s formal conditions for a 15% reduction target are fulfilled. Beyond that, Australia could make substantial contributions of a non-binding nature on land-based carbon at home and in Indonesia. Australia will also need to provide significant climate finance to developing countries. This event will be held on Tuesday 23rd March from 12.30pm – 1.30pm at the Molonglo Theatre, New Crawford Building, Lennox Crossing, Australian National University. For I or to register, contact Henry Keenan: Ph: 6125 5559, henry.keenan@anu.edu.au.
Should we fly? Air travel and climate change (Melbourne, March 25): Aircraft emissions are one of the fastest growing sources of carbon pollution, yet little is being done to curb their growth. At this 'talk climate' event, Activist Louise Matthiesson from the Moreland Energy Foundation examines the political economy of air travel and asks the question: can we still fly and stop climate change? The talk will be held at 6.30 pm, Thursday March 25, at the Climate Action CentreLvl 5, New Building, Victorian Trades Hall, Cnr. Victoria & Lygon Streets, Carlton South Wine and refreshments are available for a donation. Details are available from info@climateactioncentre.org or 9639 3660.
Multi-faith vigil during Earth Hour (Sydney, March 27): A Vigil of Light and Hope is a multi-faith event to be held during Earth Hour 2010 at Sydney’s Observatory Hill. Participants will gather at this spectacular vantage point of Sydney‘s Harbour to meditate, pray, dance and share hope and aspirations for a more sustainable future. The event will join millions of others around the planet as they switch off lights in support of Earth Hour, which seeks to raise awareness of the urgency to act on climate change. The evening will run from 7:30 to 9:30pm at Observatory Hill, corner Fort Street and Watson Road, The Rocks, Sydney. It is free and all are welcome. It is organised by CANA member, the Australian Religious Response to Climate Change (ARRCC), and details are available from ARRCC's Greg O’Donnell (02 8239 6299).
Solar Energy seminar: Australian Trends and Forecast (Syd, Mar 29; Bris, Mar 31; Melb, May 10): The Australian Solar Energy Society, a CANA member, will draw on its expertise in solar energy in Australia, led by Australia’s foremost solar experts, to give participants an informative ‘snapshot’ of solar energy in Australia, highlighting emerging trends and opportunities. Bringing together the best solar analysts and commentators, this event is perfect for anyone wanting to get a concise, credible, and informative insight into solar energy in Australia. It will be held on March 29 in Sydney, March 31 in Brisbane, and May 10 in Melbourne. For details and to register, visit http://anzses.org/files/SolarEnergySymposium.pdf
Green Capital: Doing nothing is NOT an option! (Syd, Mar 30; Melb, Apr 14): Three years of build-up for a national emission trading scheme has collapsed. Global climate negotiations are in disarray. And now it’s an election year for Australia. Where business had hoped for carbon certainty, it now faces prolonged policy confusion and frustration … all hopes of a bipartisan political solution appear to be lost. So what happens now? The Total Environment Centre and its corporate sustainability program Green Capital have shaped a special event and IP package to help answer the big carbon challenges for 2010. To be released at the events, our IP includes our latest issues paper, 'Doing nothing is NOT an option', and results of our own survey of sustainability professionals. The event will be held in Sydney on Tuesday, 30 March 2010 from 7am-10am, and in Melbourne on Wednesday, 14 April 2010 from 7am-10am. Details and bookings can be made at https://guest.cvent.com/EVENTS/Register/IdentityConfirmation.aspx?i=0d582c4b-46b3-4507-93e4-55387c3ed0b0. In preparation for the event, TEC and Green Capital are requesting that as many professionals working on sustainability and climate change as possible answer the 12-question survey at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/VQGPYT2.
Calendar of events and happenings
MARCH '10
20: SA and Tasmanian state elections
27: Global earth hour: Turn off your lights for an hour at 8:30pm (Sydney time): www.earthhour.org
APRIL '10
9-11: UNFCCC intersessional, Bonn.
20: MEF likely to be held in London
20-22: Peoples’ World Conference on Climate Change and Mother Earth’s Rights, Cochabamba, Bolivia: http://links.org.au/node/1447.
21-22: Community building and social inclusion conference, Melbourne: http://www.civilsociety.org.au/CommunityBuildingNationalConference2010.htm.
22 – 23: Business for the environment (b4e) summit, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
27-29: Organising Conference - Power Up 2010 , Sydney: http://www.actu.org.au/Events/OrganisingConference2010.aspx
MAY '10:
24 – 28: Fourth GEF Assembly, Punta del Este, Uruguay.
28-29: Australian Network of Environmental Defender's Offices national conference, Sydney: http://www.edo.org.au/edonsw/
31- June 11: 32nd session of the UNFCCC Convention subsidiary bodies, Bonn, Germany.
JUNE '10
4: World Climate Teach-In Day - http://world.climateday.net/
18-20: The 2010 People’s Summit: Building a Movement for a Just World, Toronto: www.peoplessummit2010.ca
21 – 25: Montreal Protocol OEWG-30, Bangkok, Thailand
26 – 27: G-8/G-20 Summit, Toronto http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/g82010/index.aspx.
28 – July 2: 18TH Commonwealth forestry conference, Edinburgh, Scotland.
28 – July 1: Global Humanitarian Forum’s 2010 Youth Forum, Geneva, Switzerland: www.ghfyouthforum.org.
29- July 2: Climate Adaptation Futures Conference, Gold Coast, www.nccarf.edu.au.
AUGUST '10
8: Earliest possible date for a normal Federal election (non-double dissolution)
16 – 20: Second international conference on climate, sustainability and development in semi-arid regions (ICID II), Fortaleza, Brazil.
SEPTEMBER '10
'Meeting the global health challenge', 63rd UN DPI/NGO conference, Melbourne: paul.ronalds@worldvision.com.au
OCTOBER '10
27 – 29: Fourth international renewable energy conference (IREC), New Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, India.
NOVEMBER '10
8 – 19: UNFCCC Second sessional period in 2010
15-16: Australia New Zealand Third Sector Research Conference, University of Technology, Sydney: http://cosmopolitancivilsocieties.com/2009/12/08/anztsr-call-for-papers/
11-13: G-20 Summit, Seoul
27: Victorian Election
29 - Dec 10: CoP 16/ MoP 6, Cancun, Mexico (16th Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC, and 6th Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol).
2011
MARCH '11
26: NSW Election
JUNE '11
6 – 17: UNFCCC subsidiary bodies, Bonn, Germany.
NOVEMBER '11
28 – Dec 9: Cop 17/MoP7, South Africa.
Solar Energy seminar: Australian Trends and Forecast (Syd, Mar 29; Bris, Mar 31; Melb, May 10): The Australian Solar Energy Society, a CANA member, will draw on its expertise in solar energy in Australia, led by Australia’s foremost solar experts, to give participants an informative ‘snapshot’ of solar energy in Australia, highlighting emerging trends and opportunities. Bringing together the best solar analysts and commentators, this event is perfect for anyone wanting to get a concise, credible, and informative insight into solar energy in Australia. It will be held on March 29 in Sydney, March 31 in Brisbane, and May 10 in Melbourne. For details and to register, visit http://anzses.org/files/SolarEnergySymposium.pdf
Green Capital: Doing nothing is NOT an option! (Syd, Mar 30; Melb, Apr 14): Three years of build-up for a national emission trading scheme has collapsed. Global climate negotiations are in disarray. And now it’s an election year for Australia. Where business had hoped for carbon certainty, it now faces prolonged policy confusion and frustration … all hopes of a bipartisan political solution appear to be lost. So what happens now? The Total Environment Centre and its corporate sustainability program Green Capital have shaped a special event and IP package to help answer the big carbon challenges for 2010. To be released at the events, our IP includes our latest issues paper, 'Doing nothing is NOT an option', and results of our own survey of sustainability professionals. The event will be held in Sydney on Tuesday, 30 March 2010 from 7am-10am, and in Melbourne on Wednesday, 14 April 2010 from 7am-10am. Details and bookings can be made at https://guest.cvent.com/EVENTS/Register/IdentityConfirmation.aspx?i=0d582c4b-46b3-4507-93e4-55387c3ed0b0. In preparation for the event, TEC and Green Capital are requesting that as many professionals working on sustainability and climate change as possible answer the 12-question survey at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/VQGPYT2.
