Find out what’s possible at day 1 of the Better Futures Forum 2024
National Film and Sound Archive of Australia, Canberra
Tuesday 10 September
Australian communities, industries and subnational programs are driving the renewable-powered, net-zero future – acting faster and with more ambition than the federal government.
Keynotes: Building better, equitable futures for Australia
- Reece Whitby, WA Minister for Energy, Environment, and Climate Action
- Brendan French, CEO, Energy Consumers Australia
- Michele O’Neil, President, Australian Council of Trade Unions
- Christian Hampson, CEO and First Nations Design Lead, Yerrabingin
Plenary panel ‘Our Opportunity to Repower Households and Communities’. Practical solutions, policy frameworks, and the importance of community-owned renewable projects.
Opportunities for decarbonisation. Insights and analysis from Climateworks Centre (an independent initiative within Monash University) on Australia’s state and territory climate policies.
Policy and investment strategy for a just transition. Why community owned projects are vital to a successful transition to 100% renewables, alongside swift private and public investment.
A new approach to the rollout of renewables in our regions. Australia’s net zero targets are under threat unless regional communities are given a seat at the table. What’s working and what’s not?
Nature conservation and land use in climate strategy. Working with nature and landholders and integrating First Nations’ knowledge and leadership.
Climate safe-and-ready communities. Regulatory and financial solutions to create resilient communities in a climate impacted and zero emissions future.
2024 Local Government Climate Review. Report launch at Climate Leaders Dinner, National Arboretum. With Anna Reynolds, Lord Mayor of Hobart; Kristy McBain, Federal Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories; ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr; review author Imogen Jubb, Climate Program Manager, Ironbark Sustainability; and Linda Scott, President, Australian Local Government Association.
Also on Day 1: while AFL finals fever grips the nation, St Kilda ruckman and Footy for Climate co-founder, Tom Campbell, swaps his footy boots for a mic in the closing panel, ‘Agents of Change’, alongside Western Sydney GP and climate activist Dr Kim Loo, Chair of Asian Australians for Climate Solutions. While Tom is kicking eco-goals on and off the field, Dr Loo is busy hosting induction cooking classes for Chinese seniors to demonstrate electrification is safer and healthier for people and the planet. And a powerful climate showreel specially compiled by the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia.
Coming up tomorrow, Wednesday 11 September: the opportunity for Australia to co-host COP31 with Pacific neighbours; insights and stories from First Nations elders, youth leaders, policymakers, a museum curator, and more, on the importance of unlocking public engagement around ‘Action for Climate Empowerment’ at COPs; a wake-up call to the Australian government from Paris Climate Agreement Architect, Laurence Tubiana, CEO of the European Climate Foundation; and an expert panel on Australia’s sector pathways to Paris, tagging last week’s release of the Climate Change Authority’s Sector Pathways Review.
Better Futures Forum is Australia’s largest multi-sectoral conference on climate. 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:
For more information and media accreditation contact: Shelley Thomas, shelley@scienceinpublic.com.au / 0416 377 444 or Niall Byrne, niall@scienceinpublic.com.au / 0417 131 977
