Reimagining Climate Adaptation Summit
Dates: 19 April - 22 April 2021
Location: Zoom
We'd like to welcome you to join the Reimagining Climate Adaptation Summit from 19-22 April 2021, via Zoom. Register your interest.(opens in a new window)
After the devastating bushfires of last summer, it is clear that Australia needs an evidence-based policy response to the range of emerging threats posed by environmental change. We welcome the Prime Minister’s comments earlier in 2020 on the need to focus on resilience and adaptation for all Australians—and argue it must be done in a substantive, inclusive, community-based manner.
Future Earth Australia(opens in a new window), in partnership with the Sydney Environment Institute(opens in a new window) (University of Sydney) and the Institute for Culture and Society (Western Sydney University), is bringing experts from research, business, practice, decision making and communities together to look forward and set out a clear agenda for climate adaptation as we reduce our emissions. Adaptation and resilience must be undertaken with respect to enabling a just transition to climate sustainability for all Australians.
The Summit will be hosted in interactive webinar format via Zoom. We welcome you to bring questions for the speakers and panels through the Q&A function.
Registration is free, but we also welcome donations to Future Earth Australia to enable it to continue it's important work of convening collaboration between sectors, experts and communities on our Nation's most significant sustainability challenges.
Themes and Speakers
Each day will feature a keynote and three plenaries between 10:00AM to 3:45PM Australian Eastern Standard Time. Full program now available.
Day 1: Knowledge Perspectives Across Oceania
Keynote: Bruce Pascoe - Author of Dark Emu
- Prof Jaky Troy(opens in a new window) - Director, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research Research Portfolio at the University of Sydney
- Prof Jon Barnett(opens in a new window) - ARC Laureate Fellow and Future Islands project lead, Melbourne University
- Dr Chels Marshall(opens in a new window) - Gumbaynggirr woman and Knowledge Keeper, Indigenous systems ecologist
- Dr Tammy Tabe(opens in a new window) - Marine, climate and Pacific migration scholar, University of the South Pacific
- Dr Anne Poelina(opens in a new window) - Nyikina Traditional Custodian, Managing Director of Madjulla Incorporated
- Dr Meg Parsons(opens in a new window) - Historical geographer and Indigenous studies scholar, University of Auckland
- Prof Lauren Rickards(opens in a new window) - Co-leader of Climate Change Transformations Research Program, RMIT
- Dr Georgina Woods(opens in a new window) - Environmental poet and activist
Day 2: Enabling Action
Keynote: Dr Marcelo Mena Carrasco(opens in a new window) - Director of the Center for Climate Action, PUCV; Chilean Minister for Environment 2017-2018.
- Kate Mackenzie(opens in a new window) - Finance and climate change specialist, Fellow at the Centre for Policy Development
- Katie Eberle(opens in a new window) - International Climate Partnerships at Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources
- Adrian Turner(opens in a new window) - CEO Minderoo Wildfire and Disaster Resilience Program, Minderoo Foundation
- Crystal Fleming(opens in a new window) - Adaptation lead, Investor Group on Climate Change
- Chris Croker(opens in a new window) - Managing Director, Impact Investment Partners
- Dorean Erhart(opens in a new window) - Queensland Climate Resilient Councils Program, Local Government Association of Queensland
- Dr Ian Fry(opens in a new window) - International climate change policy specialist, ANU
Day 3: Imagining Thriving Futures
Keynote: The Hon. Lily D'Ambrosio MP, Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, Victorian Government
- Prof Jean Palutikof(opens in a new window) - Former Director of the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility; Griffith University
- Joe Morrison(opens in a new window) - CEO, Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation
- Dr Russ Wise(opens in a new window) - Sustainability economist, CSIRO
- David Tucker - Chief of Infrastructure Assessment, Infrastructure Australia
- Prof Lesley Head(opens in a new window) - Head of School of Geography, University of Melbourne
- Scott Hickman - Coordinator, Mid-Lachlan Landcare
- Hillary Montague - National Campaigner, Australian Youth Climate Coalition
- Declan Clausen - Deputy Mayor, City of Newcastle
- Mark Greenhill OAM(opens in a new window) - Mayor, City of the Blue Mountains
Day 4: Empowering Future Leaders in Adaptation
Supported by 3M(opens in a new window), Future Earth Australia will host early career researchers and practitioners for a number of interactive seminars and workshops with senior industry, research and government figures working in climate adaptation.
Please note that registrants for this day must be associated with a Future Earth Australia member institution (see ‘Financial Members’ here).(opens in a new window) Numbers are limited and will be accepted on a first come first served basis.
- Dr Gayle Schueller(opens in a new window), Vice-President and Chief of Sustainability, 3M
Register for the Empowering Future Leaders in Adaptation day(opens in a new window).
Nationwide Consultation
This Summit is the culmination of a nationwide consultation process. Over this consultation, Future Earth Australia and its partners convened people in every state and territory to enquire as to how we might rethink adaptation in light of the deep transformation required in Australia’s society and economy, what are our strengths, weaknesses and the range of adaptation policies over the years, and how we can bring community knowledge and preferences into adaptation planning.
You can find the summary of our national discussion here(opens in a new window).
