20 Aug 2009: Climate change: Sharing the risk, working together

Venue: Monash University Law Chambers, Melbourne

Climate change has been described by Professor Ross Garnaut as a “diabolical” issue. Climate change is uncertain in its format and extent, insidious rather than (as yet) confrontational, long-term rather than immediate, international as well as national and, in the absence of effective mitigation, there is a risk of dangerous consequences. The European Union has demonstrated leadership in the development of approaches to address issues associated with climate change including the implementation of an emissions-trading scheme, the setting of short and long-term emissions reduction, energy efficiency and renewable energy targets. Australia’s exposure to the risk of climate change demonstrates similarities and differences to those of the European Union. The sharing of approaches provides the opportunity to exploit successful innovation, learn from our respective experiences and contribute to the global effort to find adaptive and mitigative solutions to this “diabolical” problem.

The Centre’s 2009 Annual Public Lecture was delivered by Dr Graeme Pearman AM on Thursday 20 August 2009 at the Monash Law Chambers to a large and enthusiastic audience. Over drinks following the lecture Dr Pearman answered many further questions from interested participants.

Dr Graeme Pearman was Chief of the CSIRO (Australia) Division of Atmospheric Research, 1992–2002. He contributed over 150 scientific journal papers primarily on aspects of the global carbon budget. In his remarkable career, he has received many distinctions for his contribution to Science, amongst which an Australian Medal of the Order of Australia (1999) and a Federation Medal (2003). He is now a private consultant contracting to both private and public sector organizations and Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at Monash University.

Posted on 21 August 2009