WHAT:
- The inaugural Climate Action Week Sydney (CAW.SYD) is taking place between May 13-19 – with thousands of Sydneysiders to come together to explore how Sydney and Australia can accelerate climate action.
- The official CAW.SYD Opening Day event is being held at Greenhouse (Salesforce Tower) tomorrow Monday 13 May with hundreds of people expected to attend calling for greater action on climate change.
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Speakers on the day include:
- Larry Marshall, former CEO of CSIRO, Chair of Fortescue's Innovation Committee, and Chair of the American Chamber of Commerce in Australia
- Judy Slatyer, President of WWF Australia
- Yael Stone, actress and climate communicator of Orange is the New Black fame
- Larissa Baldwin-Roberts, CEO of GetUp
- Damon Gameau, award-winning director of 2040 and Regenerating Australia
- The Lord Mayor Clover Moore AO
- Mark Rowland, Greenhouse Climate Tech Hub
- The first ever Climate Action Week Sydney follows similar events in New York and London, and includes a huge variety 100+ events across greater Sydney including:
- Hands-on workshops
- Surf lessons and fun runs
- Career fairs
- Art installations
- Film screenings
- Food tastings and urban farming tours
- Panel discussions and networking events.
WHY THIS MATTERS:
- April 2024 was the hottest April ever on record
- The world’s oceans are suffering from a record-breaking year of heat
- Climate scientists are issuing dismayed warnings that we are going to ‘blow past’ the 1.5C warming target
VISUALS AND INTERVIEWS:
Inaugural Climate Action Week Sydney – Opening Day
- Hundreds of climate activists, entrepreneurs, business people, investors, academics, Traditional Owners, students, community organisations and environmental campaigners coming together to call for more urgent climate action
- Welcome to Country, Smoking Ceremony and call to action at 845am
- UPDATED VENUE: Greenhouse Climate Tech Hub | Salesforce Tower
Level 3/180 George St, Sydney
Media can register for a ticket using the code IMMEDIA - and are also invited to attend Climate Action Week Sydney events being held throughout the week across greater Sydney: www.caw.sydney.
QUOTES FROM CLIMATE ACTION WEEK SYDNEY PARTNERS AND PARTICIPANTS:
Mark Rowland, Chief Collaboration Officer at climate tech hub Greenhouse – a supporting partner of CAW.SYD says: “Climate Action Week Sydney is for the community, by the community. It’s an opportunity for people and organisations across Sydney to come together to inspire and take stronger climate action. It’s about harnessing the collective energy of our community to educate and inspire action that helps create a better future for us all. We encourage everyone to get involved.”
Richie Merzian, International Director for the Smart Energy Council, who will headline an event focusing on the opportunity for Sydney to host the 2026 global UN climate change talks said: “Climate Action Week Sydney comes at a crucial time for our climate and our region. If the world is to transition at the speed and scale needed to address the climate crisis, we need the community coming together to demand greater action from all.”
Lord Mayor of Sydney Clover Moore AO said: “Climate change is an existential threat and the most serious issue of our time. About 75 per cent of global emissions are generated by cities, so climate action at a city level is critical. We are proud to lead by example and encourage action from other governments with ambitious targets and policies, advocacy, and achievements.”
Key Facts:
Some highlights of the week-long program of events include:
- Official CAW.SYD Opening Day at Greenhouse
- A finale event at Customs House focused on Sydney's bid to host COP31, hosted by the Smart Energy Council (landing *the* global climate event for our city)
- A panel discussion on Decarbonising Steel hosted by WWF Australia.
- Community Stories: Rebuilding for a Better Future. Hosted by the Australian Museum and Nature Conservation Council, a free community event featuring speakers from Bushfire Survivors For Climate Action and Renewable Cobargo.
- Premiere of feature-length documentary Antarctica the Giant Awakens’ from award-winning director Liz Courtney.
- Vow cultured meat factory tour and talk. An introduction to the cutting edge of cultured meat – and a discussion about addressing the rapidly growing global demand for meat through sustainable means.
- Indoor vertical Farm Tour of an urban farm in Rosebery where you can sample some of their fresh produce.
- Twilight Dinner at an Urban Aquaponics Farm including a panel on food solution innovation.
- Rising Up: Free film screening and Q&A with the filmmaker and youth activists, exploring communities finding ways to combat the climate and plastic crises.
- Climate Week plant-based Sunday brunch. A vegan culinary experience including speakers who will share the latest on sustainable eating.
- Oceans of Potential: Feeding 10 Billion. An interactive event exploring how the ocean can provide solutions to climate change.
- AI - sustainable fashion scoundrel or saviour? A discussion unpacking AI's place in the future of fashion and see how it can be used for both bad and good.
- Pedalling Forward: The Future of School Commutes in a Climate-Conscious World. A Panel discussion and community conversation about sustainable transportation.
- We can't save the climate by destroying nature. Hear from leading voices as they explore the intersection of the climate and biodiversity crises and share how we can achieve a unified approach to planetary challenges.
- Net-Zero Mobility and Transport. A panel discussion about strategies and pathways to achieving common net-zero emission transport and mobility objectives.
Full schedule of Climate Action Week Sydney events here: www.caw.sydney
Contact details:
For further information or to arrange interviews, contact:
- Chris Williams – chris@kaizenco.au / 0480 386 879
- Ben Hornbrook – ben@kaizenco.au / 0431 180 161