Electrifying all Australian households (9.45 am, Mural Hall, APH)
Driving green exports
The case for Australia to host COP31 with Pacific neighbours
Find out how the Australian government can step up, at home and globally, in the race to a sustainable, just, net-zero future at day 2 of the Better Futures Forum 2024 at the National Film and Sound Archive, Canberra
Wednesday 11 September
Embargoed media call: 9.45 am, Mural Hall, Parliament House: Renew Australia For All will call for urgent government investment in renewable energy through a new plan which could cut the average Australian’s power bill by an average of $1,390 per year. With Michele O'Neil, ACTU; Reverend Faaimata (Mata) Havea Hiliau, Uniting Church; Desiree Cai, Tomorrow Movement; John Grimes, Smart Energy Council; Dan Cass, Rewiring Australia; Dermot O’Gorman, WWF Australia
BFF Opening Address: 8 am, Energy Upgrades, Climate Resilience and Adaptive Capacity
Hon Josh Wilson, Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy, will share the government's initiatives to empower households and communities to embrace renewable energy and adapt to the challenges of climate change.
Zero-carbon energy for Asia-Pacific, 9 am
Panel on Australia’s role in accelerating the world’s clean energy economy, with a focus on innovation and international collaboration.
- Prof Frank Jotzo, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University
- Natalie Unterstell, president of Brazil’s climate policy think tank, the Talanoa Institute
- Michael Battaglia, Towards Net Zero Mission Lead, CSIRO
- Simon Holmes à Court, The Superpower Institute
- Rebecca Jinks, Taronga Ventures
Planetary health equity, 11.15
Overcoming humanity’s big three challenges – climate change, social inequality and premature death and disease. With Planetary Health Equity Hothouse member and Katherine Trebeck, The Next Economy.
Australia’s sector pathways to Paris, 1.15
Luke Menzel, CEO Energy Efficiency Council, with panellists Heidi Lee, Jorge Chapa, Kate Andrews, and Andrew Morgan, on how Australia's emissions pathways can help meet Paris Climate Agreement goals. Only clear transition pathways will help win the race to net zero. The session also includes presentations from Matt Kean, Director Regulatory Affairs and Strategic Partnerships, Wollemi Capital; Baethan Mullen, CEO of the Superpower Institute.
Clean industries, manufacturing and exports, 1.30: Exploring how green hydrogen, green metals, and trade agreements can boost Australia’s green export potential.
Building an Inclusive and Equitable Clean Energy Workforce: Crafting an inclusive and clean economy.
Australia’s role in co-hosting COP31, partnering with our Pacific neighbours. An inclusive conversation with Pacific and First Nations, offering insights and opportunities in the lead up to a COP31 in Australia in partnership with the Pacific.
Release of a joint report by Smart Energy Council and Climate Council, with Smart Energy Council’s International Director Richie Merzian and International Ambassador Annastacia Palaszczuk in her first role since stepping down as Queensland Premier. Plus ANU’s George Carter and ocean/climate activist Tishiko King.
Also on Day 2: screening of acclaimed scientist Tim Flannery’s, Climate Changers, documenting his global journey to uncover the missing ingredient in the fight against climate change – that is leadership.
The Better Futures Forum (10-11 September) is Australia’s largest multi-sectoral gathering on climate. The third forum at Canberra’s National Film and Sound Archive will showcase significant strides in community-based climate solutions and share insights on scalable solutions in the global race to net zero. New reports on community energy, export energy, local government and more will be released over the two days.
Full list of speakers at https://www.betterfutures.org.au/full_lineup_2024, and program at https://www.betterfutures.org.au/full_program_2024.
All sessions are open to media.
Contact details:
Shelley Thomas, shelley@scienceinpublic.com.au / 0416 377 444 or Niall Byrne, niall@scienceinpublic.com.au / 0417 131 977
