George Negus to facilitate climate change summit
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
From the Premier of Victoria
SBS Television host George Negus has been appointed facilitator of the Victorian Climate Change Summit, to be held this Friday at Parliament House.
Premier John Brumby said Mr Negus had more than 30 years experience as a journalist and media presenter and would help ensure every delegate’s voice was heard at the Summit.
“Around 120 delegates, representing a broad range of interests, backgrounds and professions will attend the Victorian Climate Change Summit,” Mr Brumby said. “The event will encourage debate and generate innovative ideas to ensure Victoria remains at the leading edge in tackling climate change.”
Key speakers and discussion leaders at the Summit include:
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Dr Robin Batterham, President of the Academy of Technological Scientists and Engineers
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Tony Nicholson, Executive Director or the Brotherhood of St Laurence
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Mike Waller, newly appointed Chair of Sustainability Victoria
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Dr Penny Whetton, Leader of Climate Impact and Risk Stream, CSIRO
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Erwin Jackson, Director of Research and Policy, The Climate Institute
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Bob Welsh, Chief Executive Officer, VicSuper
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Janet Bolitho, Deputy Mayor of City of Port Phillip.
The agenda for the Summit will focus on critical issues for Victoria’s future, including:
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Reducing emissions in the energy and transport sectors
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Positioning Victorian industry to capitalise on the new jobs, new technologies and new markets in the climate change economy
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Assisting households in a climate change economy
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Increasing the resilience of Victoria’s regions and communities to manage the impacts of climate change
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Positioning Victoria for a leadership role in the national response to climate change – including Victoria’s Climate Change Bill.
The community will also be able to watch the summit opening live on-line from 9am at www.climatechange.vic.gov.au/summit/
The website will also feature an on-line forum from 10.50am to 12.30pm so that more people can be involved in the discussions on the day.
Minister for the Environment and Climate Change Gavin Jennings said the results of the online forum would be reported back to the summit at the end of the day
“We are fortunate to be able to draw on the experience and knowledge of so many respected people at the Climate Change Summit, and I am looking forward to hearing their contributions,” Mr Jennings said.
The Climate Change Summit is being hosted by the Premier and the Minister for Environment and Climate Change at Parliament House on Friday 4 April.
