Posts Tagged ‘policy’
Energy, Transport, Housing & Summer Reading for the PM: Grattan Podcasts
Posted in Opinion, Research by Kate Archdeacon on December 22nd, 2011
Source: Grattan Institute
Australia’s energy future was considered in a seminar series that Grattan Institute ran jointly this year with the Melbourne Energy Institute. Webcasts are available for the final two seminars on the future of solar power and transport.
Grattan’s report Getting the housing we want was launched on November 21 by Cities Program Director Jane-Frances Kelly in conversation with former Victorian Premier, John Brumby. Transcripts and recordings of the launch are available, as is the report.
Every year Grattan Institute produces its Summer Reading List for the Prime Minister. The list contains books and articles that we found stimulating and a pleasure to read, and that we believe the PM, or indeed any Australian, should read over the break. Watch the launch or download the reading list.
www.grattan.edu.au
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Melbourne’s Food Policy: Get Involved
Posted in Events, Movements, Seeking by Kate Archdeacon on November 4th, 2011
| 16 November , 2011 | ||
| 6:00 pm | to | 8:30 pm |
| 17 November , 2011 | ||
| 9:30 am | to | 12:00 pm |
You have the opportunity to shape the future of food in the City of Melbourne and we’d love you to get involved – we’re engaging with stakeholders, industry organisations and the community. The Food Policy discussion paper is now available. The closing date for feedback is COB Friday 9 December, 2011.
Food Forums:
City of Melbourne will be holding food conversations in November. The following two dates are confirmed, check back for further details of any subsequent sessions:
- Industry / Stakeholder Food Conversation
- Date: Thursday 17 November Time: 9.30am – 12pm (Morning Tea provided)
- Venue: Melbourne Town Hall – Supper Room, 120 Swanston Street, Melbourne
- RSVP to: health
@melbourne.vic.gov.au - Community / Residents Conversation
- Date: Wednesday 16 November Time: 6pm – 8.30pm (light refreshments provided)
- Venue: Visy Park (Carlton Football Club) – George Harris Function Room, Royal Parade, Carlton North
- RSVP to: health
@melbourne.vic.gov.au
What does food mean to you? Keep your eye out for our reply paid postcard at City of Melbourne libraries, community centres and recreation centres. Complete the card and return it to us by 30 November for your chance to win an iPad2!
Extract from the Food Policy Discussion Paper:
Melbourne is world-renowned for the quality of its food and its liveability, and we want it to stay that way.
We want to make sure that everyone in Melbourne can enjoy good food, now and reliably into the future. For many of us, Melbourne’s food is a cause for celebration – we have ready access to a wide variety of high-quality foods all year-round, which we enjoy at home and in a diverse and thriving scene of cafes, restaurants, bars and other outlets. These and other related businesses are an important part of our local economy, providing diverse jobs, opportunities and enterprise.
For others, there are real challenges in consistently being able to get the food they need. Limited choices often combined with poor physical or economic access undermines health and contributes to food insecurity. Those of us who do have ready access to the foods we want also often eat in ways that undermine our health.
It is increasingly apparent that food systems and the health of the natural systems that support them (our land, water and atmosphere) are unsustainable. The need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, adapt to a changing climate and reduce oil vulnerability in the food system, are pressing. These issues are emerging as important global concerns. Cities around the world are recognising the important role they can play in leading and catalysing change towards healthy, sustainable, fair and resilient food systems.
The community has articulated a vision for Melbourne as a “bold, inspirational and sustainable city” – this discussion paper starts the conversation about what this means for food.
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Find out more on the City of Melbourne website.
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Conflicts Between Climate, Energy and Water Policies: Lessons from Texas
Posted in Events by Kate Archdeacon on June 1st, 2011
| 2 June , 2011 | ||
| 5:30 pm | to | 7:00 pm |
FREE PUBLIC LECTURE Melbourne Energy Institute
Conflicts between climate, energy and water policies: lessons from Texas
Speaker: Associate Professor Michael Webber
Prof. Webber will introduce the climate, energy and water nexus with particular reference to the situation in Texas, a jurisdiction of similar dimensions to Australia and with similar climate, energy and water challenges. He will outline the limits to new fossil, nuclear and renewable energy generation due to water scarcity, and the energy demand implications of supplementing water supplies. He will outline examples of potential knowledge, technological and regulatory solutions to the climate, energy and water nexus from Texas and the United States more broadly, and give his thoughts on priority policy measures.
Thursday 2nd June 5.30—7.00 pm
Graduate House, The University of Melbourne 220 Leicester Street, Carlton, Vic 3053
Click through to register your attendance
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Behaviour Change and Transport Policy: Lessons from Successes in Bogota
Posted in Events by Kate Archdeacon on May 13th, 2011
| 17 May , 2011 | ||
| 6:30 pm | to | 8:00 pm |
Source: GAMUT
Image: josef.stuefer via flickr CC
Behaviour Change and Transport Policy: Lessons from Successes in Bogata with Professor Juan Pablo Bocarejo
Professor Juan Pablo Bocarejo is professor at Universidad de Los Andes in Bogota, Colombia in the transportation field and the director of the Research Centre on Urban and Regional Sustainability (SUR), which develops projects in road safety, transport economics, policy, transport and traffic modelling, equity issues related to mobility, environmental impacts as well as land use and mobility. He is a civil engineer by training, with a PhD degree from University Paris Est. He has 15 years experience in urban transport and regional development projects. As a consultant he participated in the development of a range of projects leading to improvements in the transportation system and in Bogota and other Latin American cities, with a strong focus on sustainability. He has participated in projects such as improvements to public transport through BRT development, Bicycle Master Plans and cultural and behavioural change programs.
Tuesday, 17th May; 6.30pm start
Venue: E- Zone Theatre at The University of Melbourne
http://www.abp.unimelb.edu.au/gamut/events/lecturesseminarsforums/bocarejo.html
Presented by GAMUT and Bicycle Victoria
Free Admission, No Need to Book.
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Renewable Energy Policy & Politics: Adam Bandt
Posted in Events by Mark Ogge on February 28th, 2011
| 7 March , 2011 | ||
| 6:30 pm | to | 8:00 pm |
Beyond Zero Emissions
The ZCA2020 Stationary Energy Plan shows that 100% renewables can be a reality in 10 years. We need all levels of government on board to implement a mass rollout of baseload solar thermal power stations and wind farms. For the next discussion group, Adam Bandt (Federal MP for Melbourne) will outline the Greens’ renewable energy plan and their campaign for urgent action on climate change. Adam is a barrister and in August 2010, became the first lower house Greens MP elected to Parliament in a general election. He will also talk about his public transport vision for Melbourne – more trains, bikes and electric cars.
6:30- 8pm Monday 7 March 2011
Fritz Loewe Theatre (entry via level 2)
McCoy Building
University of Melbourne
Cnr Elgin & Swanston Streets, Carlton
Thank you to the University of Melbourne Energy Research Institute, our Zero Carbon Australia project partners for joining us in bringing you this event.
Entry: Gold coin donation
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Climate Change Public Lecture: Ross Garnaut
Posted in Events by Kate Archdeacon on January 17th, 2011
| 3 February , 2011 | ||
| 6:00 pm | to | 7:00 pm |
Source: Victorian Climate Action Calendar
Register your attendance at http://garnaut-public-lecture.eventbrite.com
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Alliance urges Govt to rebalance transport budget
Posted in Policies by Kate Archdeacon on June 24th, 2009
Source: Sustainable Cities, Australian Conservation Foundation
Image: RAATA
A new report by the Rapid Active & Affordable Transport Alliance (RAATA), Investing in sustainable transport: Our clean, green transport future, urges the Federal Government to catch up on years of neglect by investing two thirds of the transport budget in public and active transport measures. Speaking at the report launch in Canberra, ACF executive director Don Henry said public and active transport infrastructure has been neglected for too long and some money allocated to roads should be spent on public and active transport infrastructure.
“Climate change and peak oil are key challenges for Australia. Investment in public and active transport infrastructure will help make Australia more sustainable, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help wean us off our addiction to oil,” Mr Henry said.
Source: Sustainable Cities, Australian Conservation Foundation
State of the Cities – Unlocking the Data Conference
Posted in Events by Virginia on May 10th, 2009
This conference is aimed at achieving better City information on liveability, prosperity and environmental sustainability at the Federal, State and Local levels and within academia and the private sector. It is supported by the Major Cities Unit and colleagues in the other capital cities.
Event: State of the Cities-Unlocking the Data Conference
When: 27th May – 29th May. Program available here.
Where: Yarra Room, Melbourne Town Hall, Cnr Swanston and Collins Streets, Melbourne
Register for the event here. For more information, please visit the website.
Climate Action Summit in Canberra
Posted in Events by Ferne Edwards on January 12th, 2009
When: 31 Jan – 3 Feb, 2009
Where: Canberra
Who: Everyone!
More information: http://www.climatesummit.org.au/
In February, community climate action groups from across the continent and other concerned Australians are joining together for Australia’s Climate Action Summit in Canberra, the weekend before the first day of the 2009 Federal Parliament. At the Summit, ordinary Australians will send a powerful message to the Rudd Government on the eve of its second year that sets the agenda for urgent climate action in 2009.
Submissions sought – Review of the Federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act – by 19 December
Posted in Seeking by Ferne Edwards on December 2nd, 2008
This message was originally posted by Monique Decortis as part of the Climate Action Calendar. The Climate Action Calendar covers local events in the greater area of Melbourne, Melbourne City based events and major events elsewhere in Victoria and other places. If you wish to subscribe to the calendar please email Monique decortis @bigpond.net.au with “subscribe CAC†in the subject bar.
On 31 October 2008 the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts commissioned an independent review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), the Australian Government’s central piece of environmental legislation requires it to be reviewed every 10 years. This is the first review of the EPBC Act since its commencement on 16 July 2000. The review will assess the operation of the EPBC Act and the extent to which its objects have been achieved.