About the Summit
In Australia we have moved into a new phase of climate change policy.
The Victorian Government wants to continue to lead, and ensure Victoria is in a strong position to address the challenges, and take full advantage of the opportunities, that will arise in the move towards a low-carbon economy.
Victoria’s climate change summit was held on the 4th of April 2008 at Parliament House. The outcomes of the summit demonstrate how drawing on the best ideas from the community will continue to help Victoria to be a leader in tackling climate change.
The Premier of Victoria, John Brumby, released a Summit Paper, which has been written to engage the community in a conversation about future strategies for Victoria.
At the Summit, high profile Discussion Leaders also guided sessions on a number of important topics:
1. Reducing emissions in the energy sector
2. Positioning Victorian industry to capitalise on the new jobs, new technologies and new markets that will flow from the transition to the low-carbon economy
3. Assisting households to manage rising prices for food, energy and water
4. Increasing the resilience of Victoria's regions and communities to manage the impacts of climate change and the economic case for change
5. Positioning Victoria for a leadership role in the national response to climate change – Victoria’s climate change bill
Victoria has a unique opportunity to continue to lead on climate change policy and action with the state’s proposed climate change bill.
The Victorian Government wants the state’s experts and the community to help it step up the intensity of its efforts to tackle climate change and maintain prosperity.
The Summit will start a process to capture the best ideas from across the community and feed them into Victoria’s new climate change policy and a landmark climate change bill.
Victoria is rising to the significant challenge of climate change.
For nearly nine years the Victorian Government has shown national and international leadership on policy and actions to reduce emissions. While at the same time a growing and now indisputable, scientific body of evidence has been pointing to the need for increasingly urgent change.
I’ve been greatly encouraged by Prime Minister Rudd’s swift action to ratify the Kyoto Protocol and prioritise climate change by commissioning Professor Garnaut to scope Australia’s response . I want to ensure this momentum continues to build and that Victoria remains at the forefront of national and international efforts.
The Summit is aimed at setting a new agenda. It’s about bringing people from across business, industry and the community, around the table – and capturing the best ideas about how Victoria can do more to respond to the challenge of climate change.
We are already making changes to the way we live and do business but also want to make sure these changes will bring economic, social and environmental benefits to Victoria.
Many of the ideas that will help us achieve that goal currently lie with you – please join in and take the opportunity to share your ideas with us today. I look forward to hearing your views.
A message from Minister Jennings
Victorians are living in a world where climate change is happening and the concept is no longer debated. The evidence continues to mount up for the need for deeper greenhouse cuts.
Our focus now needs to be on innovation and action so we can cut our greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to a changing climate. We need to meet these challenges and take advantage of the opportunities that will arise.
I want Victorians to know what they can expect from climate change. That’s why I’m going to present updated regional climate change projections, covering 10 catchments across Victoria, as part of the Victorian climate change summit.
I’m looking forward to discussions at the Summit about how we can position Victoria for a leadership role in the national response to climate change. It will be important to influence new measures such as the national emissions trading scheme whilst growing Victoria’s prosperity as we move to a low-carbon economy.
Solving issues with new ideas is what this Summit is about and I invite you join in via the live web casts and online forums, or by making a written/email submission.
