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Beyond Zero Emissions Discussion Group Monday 1st December Ian Dunlop- A nation building response to climate change and peak oil

Posted in Events by Mark Ogge on November 13th, 2008

Topic: A nation building response to climate change and peak oil
Guest Speakers: Ian Dunlop * Via video conferencing link- up
When:Monday December 1, 6.30pm
Where: Top Floor, Kindness House 288 Brunswick St Fitzroy
Charge: By donation
Link: www.beyondzeroemissions.org/discussiongroup

Australian business is often perceived as being resistant to policies aimed at making serious reductions to greenhouse gas emissions, nowhere more so than in the fossil fuel and emissions intensive industries.

Ian Dunlop is one of Australia’s most prominent and respected business leaders. He has been a senior oil, gas and coal industry executive. He chaired the Australian Coal Association in 1987-88, chaired the AGO Experts Group on Emissions Trading in 1999-2000 and was CEO of the Australian Institute of Company Directors from 1997-2001. His writing on climate change and peak oil are widely published in the media and academic journals.

He is also one of the strongest and most respected advocates in this country of policies to tackle the twin threats of peak oil and climate change. His background gives him an in depth understanding of both the damaging consequences of our dependence on fossil fuels, and the path toward transitioning to a clean energy economy. He also addresses the wider context of the global sustainability crisis, including population, food and resource scarcity and geopolitical pressures.

Recently he has called for an “emergency, nation building response plan to place the economy on a low carbon footing” drawing parallels with the Snowy Hydro scheme and the Marshall plan, which reconstructed Europe after WW2

When a previous head of the Australian Coal Association calls for a rapid transition to renewable energy, we should all listen. The Beyond Zero Emissions Forum/ Discussion group offers a great opportunity to hear in detail Ian Dunlop’s vision for Australia’s transition to a clean energy future.

please reply to mark@beyondzeroemissions.org

Further reading
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/ockhamsrazor/stories/2008/2313512.htm
http://www.sciencealert.com.au/opinions/20080602-16858.html
http://www.publish.csiro.au/?act=view_file&file_id=EC138p9.pdf

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One Response to “Beyond Zero Emissions Discussion Group Monday 1st December Ian Dunlop- A nation building response to climate change and peak oil”

  1. John Bergin Says:

    November 26th, 2008 at 8:56 am

    Hi Mark,

    This sounds like an excellent night I will try to make it.

    We need to put an end to the blame game between business, local, State and Federal government before any breakthrough solutions can occur.

    I have included some details below of a project our community group is working on that aims to “Fast Track” some solutions…………

    Under Melbourne 2030 planning guidelines Melbourne has an extraordinary opportunity to initiate world leading examples of sustainable urban/commercial development by redefining designated “Major Activity Centres” as “Emissions Offset Activity Centres”

    Key Points

    1. Government co-ordinated masterplan for sites water, energy and waste infrastructure before high-rise residential/commercial buildings are constructed.

    2. Additional focus on sites transport, community amenity and biodiversity outcomes.

    3. All high-rise construction to the minimum world award winning specification of Melbourne’s CH2 and K2 Buildings.

    4. Government assistance with site consolidation issues.

    5. Government “Fast Track” of development to assist and accelerate investment from private developers.

    6. Government assistance from the “Building Australia Future Fund”.

    With many millions of government and private dollars about to be spent on proposed projects around the Nunawading Major Activity Centre area we believe that there is an immediate opportunity to redfine the Nunawading Major Activity Centre as a “Pilot Project”.

    In these tough economic times this project can move sustainable development to a whole new level and at the same time boost the Australian economy as the building industry is looking for government support. We can have emissions reduction and deal with the financial crisis with projects like this.

    We now need Federal, State & Local Government and the building industry to demonstrate co-operation and leadership to make this happen.

    So Mark, I would really appreciate your thoughts on this and look forward to discussing it with you further. Please feel free to share this with those in your group and any others that you feel can move it forward.

    You can catch me anytime on the number below.

    Regards………..John

    John Bergin B.Bus.FinSIA.Snr.
    Blackburn Lake Environmental Education Park

    Committee Members: John Bergin, Laurie Green, Glenn Bennett, Jo Jolly, Jenny Fitzpatrick, Mark Fitzpatrick, Paul Quirk, Brett Black, Jenny Jones

    Phone: 9893 6775

    Email: BLEEPNOW@optusnet.com.au More Info: http://WWW.BLEEP.ORG.AU