Posts Tagged ‘sustainability’
How Australian Agriculture Can Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Lecture
Posted in Events, Research by land-environment on August 25th, 2010
| 2 September , 2010 | ||
| 5:30 pm | to | 6:30 pm |
Melbourne School of Land and Environment: Professor Deli Chen on ‘How Australian agriculture can reduce greenhouse gas emissions – the role of improved fertiliser and water efficiency’
The application of nitrogen fertiliser in agriculture is essential for world food production – about half of the world’s population would not survive without it. Nitrogen fertiliser use in Australia has increased almost 30 fold since the 1960s. However, nitrogen fertiliser is not used efficiently and often more than 50% is lost to the environment. Agriculture in Australia is the second largest contributor of greenhouse gases, accounting for an estimated 16% of our total emission. Approximately 19% of the total is emitted as nitrous oxide mainly due to the use of nitrogen fertiliser. In his inaugural Professorial Lecture, Deli Chen will outline the main reasons for the poor efficiency of fertiliser nitrogen use and discuss options for improving its efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Professor Deli Chen is the discipline leader in Soil Water, Nutrients and Greenhouse Gases, Melbourne School of Land and Environment, University of Melbourne, and Deputy Director of the Australia-China Centre on Water Resource Research. Professor Chen has active international collaboration with scientists in China, the US and Europe, and has worked on several large projects funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research during the last 15 years. He has also worked closely with industry including Incitec-Pivot and other fertiliser producers.
Professor Chen was recently awarded the JA Prescott Medal for excellence and achievement in the field of soil science by the Australian Society of Soil Science.
Thursday 2 September 2010, 5.30-6.30pm
Arts Education Building (Building 199), level 2, corner Grattan and Swanston Streets, University of Melbourne, Parkville.
Registrations: www.land-environment.unimelb.edu.au or ecl@unimelb.edu.au
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Sustainability National Forum: SIRF Rt
Posted in Events by Kate Archdeacon on August 24th, 2010
The first ever SustainAbility National Forum will be held at Bayview on the Park in Melbourne. Comprising a full day of learning and networking under one roof, experts and practitioners will present big picture vision and practical case studies in the area of sustainability.
Tuesday September 7
Speakers:
Keynote: Professor John Thwaites, Climate Works Australia: Low Cost Carbon Roadmap for Australia
Olivia Tyler, Global Environment Manager, Fosters Group: Sustainability creates commercial value
David Wait, Data Facilities manager at Insurance Australia Group (IAG): “Put your Jacket On! Rationalising heating and cooling
Jürgen Schneider, Regional General Manager, Siemens Ltd, Victoria and South Australia: Picture the Future
Kiam Yoong, Environmental Sustainability Manager, Zoos Victoria: Making your Engagement last!
Dan Atkins, Co-founder and Managing Director of Shaper Group: The New Business Model
Geoff Lawyer, Director, Complete Colour Printing: “For the Good of All” – employee engagement that works!
Bjoern Wilhelms, Department Manager Corporate Sustainability, Australian Arrow Pty Ltd: Visualising Sustainability
Michael Cox, Program Manager Sustainability Victoria: 5 Star Sustainability
Visit the website for more information and to register.
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Cycling for Sustainability: Otesha Trivia & Dinner Night
Posted in Events by Otesha on August 16th, 2010
The Otesha Project (Australia): Cycling for Sustainability is a not-for-profit organisation that offers bicycle tours and educational programs to engage youth about sustainable consumption. Using theatre, multimedia, and interactive workshops, Otesha (Aust.)’s creative focus provides a unique approach to understanding environmental and social justice issues, enabling youth to become role models and sustainability advocates.
Our first fundraising event for our 2011 tour is going to be just as creative and fun. No ordinary trivia night, trivia, Otesha style, will be interactive, and targeting all kinds of thinkers; so grab four to five mates, think up a name, and secure a starting place among a host of other trivia loving, bike riding peeps. There’ll be a prize for the winning team as well as a lucky door prize. We’ll have a raffle on the night for some cycling related gear and you’ll be able to purchase some home made treats. Trivia is compulsory, dinner is optional; but once you step through the door and smell our amazing pizzas and vegetarian curry you’ll be watering at the mouth and wishing your stomach wasn’t full! There’ll also be yummy drinks like organic chai and also some locally brewed beer and organic wine – by donation.
Raising Funds for: The Capital City Tour: Melbourne to Canberra 2011
When: Friday 3rd September 2010
Time: 6.30pm – late
Where: Loophole Community Centre, 670 High St, Thornbury
Cost: $10 for Trivia; $10 for dinner and a drink
RSVP: Kate – kate@otesha.org.au or Vanessa – ness_j@hotmail.com
Please visit www.otesha.org.au for more details about our program and our Capital City Tour.
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Greening the Existing Building Stock: Conference 2010
Posted in Events, Research by Kate Archdeacon on August 6th, 2010
How can we meet the challenge of transforming our existing buildings for a sustainable Australia? While new buildings are becoming increasingly energy and water efficient, the overwhelming majority of existing buildings in Australia were built without any consideration for sustainability. The improvement of their performance plays a crucial part in the nation’s efforts for climate change mitigation and adaptation. The transformation of the existing building stock is regarded as the biggest challenge facing owners, government and the building industry today.
The Green Building and Design Conference 2010 will provide you with the inspiration and guidance to successfully transform the existing building stock to meet sustainability criteria. Site visits, presentations and discussions will illustrate how theory has been put into practice and how practice can be used to refine theory.
Topics include:
* key strategic issues and trends in the refurbishments of residential and commercial buildings
* successful mitigation and adaptation strategies
* mandatory disclosure of building performance
* retrofitting heritage listed buildings
* post-occupancy studies
* economic strategies for improving building performance
* life cycle analysis in the decision making process
* non-technical factors influencing successful retrofits
Hosted by the RMIT Centre for Design, this highly regarded, annual professional training conference is the most comprehensive and informative in its field due to its breadth of speakers and the practical emphasis of the program. The conference brings together architects and designers, policy makers, councilors, energy consultants, building owners and stakeholders in the construction industry. An online virtual participation mode is available for those who are unable to attend the event personally. This provides an interactive experience, providing access to presentations and the ability to ask questions in real-time. Lunch and refreshments during morning and afternoon breaks will be provided for in-person attendees.
Friday 3rd – Saturday 4th September 2010
State Library of Victoria
Contact Nicola Willand RMIT Centre for Design Tel: (+61 3) 9925 3902 Email: nicola.willand@rmit.edu.au
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Green Growth Markets: Design Victoria at the State of Design Festival
Posted in Events by Kate Archdeacon on July 7th, 2010
Design Victoria: Green Growth Markets
Green and sustainable are the buzz words of the moment, but what is behind these trends? What products and initiatives are truly green? Shifting consumer patterns and legislative requirements are driving new local and international markets for green products, materials, systems and services. Product designers, graphic designers, architects and interior designers will need to understand how to access and interpret this shifting marketplace for the future of their business. Learn from our expert panel what is “green wash”, what’s coming up and how you can gear your business to be sustainable.
Thursday 15 July, 2010 Time: 1.30pm – 3.00pm Cost: $42.00
Royal Exhibition Building
9 Nicholson St
Carlton VIC 3053
Cultivating Sustainability: Behaviour Change Training for Sustainability Advocates
Posted in Events by timc on June 21st, 2010
Cultivating Sustainability is a 1-day workshop which provides sustainability advocates with insights, models and tools to trigger the psychological drivers of sustainable behaviour. This workshop will assist you to: * Identify what people need in order to embrace sustainability * Target your efforts and resources to the points of most leverage * Incorporate psychological principles to your sustainability programs * Communicate about sustainability more effectively * Meet others who are dealing with similar challenges and share ideas and success stories. Presented by Tim Cotter, a psychologist specialising in behaviour change in an organisational and environmental context.
Tuesday July 6th, 2010, 9:30am – 4:30pm
Abbotsford Convent, 1 St Heliers St, Abbotsford, Melbourne
$120 Individuals/Community Groups – $200 Not for profits/Govt – $250 Corporates/For profit
More info at http://www.awake.com.au/cultivating.html
Email info@awake.com.au
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seven thousand oaks: festival of art and sustainability
Posted in Events by miyuki on June 10th, 2010
The inaugural seven thousand oaks festival will host over 20 artists exploring the issue of sustainability through music, visual art, performance and installation throughout Winter 2010. The festival kicks off on June 17th at Guilford Lane Gallery with Adaptation, the visual art exhibition and the first event within the 5-week festival program. seven thousand oaks (7KO) has the great pleasure of inviting Guy Abrahams Al Gore Climate Change speaker and director of the Christine Abrahams Gallery, to open the festival. Next in the 7KO line-up, come out to the Heide Museum of Modern art on Sunday June 20 for the one-day music program, Touch at a Distance.
Every Saturday during the festival the public art program, Arena, will take place on the streets of Melbourne at City Square. Finally, seven thousand oaks would like to invite you to Plant Out, a tree planting on July 16 – 18. Pack a tent, some warm clothes and hop a free bus to Moyston approximately 230km from Melbourne and join us for a weekend of tree-planting, educational activity and camp-dirt fun.
June 17- July 24 2010, Melbourne
Check out the full program at www.seventhousandoaks.org/festival
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Sustainable Shoppers Guide to Rainwater Tanks
Posted in Opinion by Kate Archdeacon on June 4th, 2010
Source: cuttings, the Sustainable Gardening Australia (SGA) newsletter
From Cuttings, May 2010:
As summer becomes a distant memory and the weather begins to cool, many of us have been privy to an unusual phenomenon… rain! With all the wet stuff about, and some governments altering their water restrictions, we do tend to forget about water conservation and rain water harvesting… but, let me assure you, this is the time to think about it, not just in the warmer months! In fact, autumn and winter are excellent times to seriously consider installing rainwater tanks. If you have a rainwater tank in place now, think of all the H2O you’ll have ready to go come spring … it’s kind of like a ‘layby lifeline’ for your patch!
But with the huge range of tanks out there, heading out to buy a tank can be incredibly daunting. Luckily, SGA have come to the rescue, and have put together a ‘Sustainable Shoppers Guide’ to help you make the right rainwater decision for your place. So here is a swag of information on a number of commonly used, currently available rainwater tanks and their features, be they good, bad and ugly. Bear in mind that new products are released all the time, so, if the tank you are interested in ain’t on the list, just let us know, or pop on the forum and have a yarn!
Oh, and remember, with all tanks, it is recommended that you get a licensed plumber to install your tanks… it’s the only way to claim any Government rebates on the purchase price of your water holding wonder!
Go to “Tanks A Lot – The Sustainable Shoppers Guide to Rainwater Tanks” to see the results.
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Green Brands Forum 2010
Posted in Events by Kate Archdeacon on May 13th, 2010
A strong sustainability message is a key ingredient for innovative brand management in today’s increasingly competitive marketplace. Momentum continues to build behind responsible purchasing and consumers are increasingly aware of the sustainable credibility of the products and services they buy.
In its third year, the Green Brands Forum 2010 brings together the cream of Australia’s crop of sustainable brand leaders to explore and share their strategic wisdom in a collaborative and practical environment. We explore the full gamut of issues around managing a sustainable brand:
* Insights from the Green Shopper Survey and brand-centric social media site, Brand Karma
* Case studies of world leading marketing strategies – what worked and what didn’t?
* How important is social media in building a credible sustainable brand?
* Green Marketing Regulation – hear the latest from the ACCC plus an introduction to the National Carbon Offset Standard
Led by Cari Jacobs, Global Director, Brand and Strategy at Saatchi S (USA), hear presentations and discussions by Unilever, Origin Energy, Australian Paper, ETIKO, Cadbury, SENSIS, Orange Power…and many more. For more info see Meet The Speakers or the Event Program.
Forum: Thursday 17th Jun 10
In conjunction with the Green Brands Forum 2010 we are also running two related, supplementary programmes, please follow the links for details.
Green Marketing Accelerated E Learning Program – Wed 16th June 2010
Brand Ambassador Workshop – Friday 18th June 2010
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Fuelling Future Vehicles in Australia: Information Evening
Posted in Events by Kate Archdeacon on May 5th, 2010
Source: Friends of the Earth Melbourne
Dr David Lamb will highlight the challenges facing Australia. There is a potential risk that oil imports will grow from current levels of 55 percent to more than 80 percent in the next decade, with dramatic effect on Australia’s balance of trade. He will discuss the issues that need to be addressed to reduce Australia’s oil dependence by adopting alternative fuels and technologies such as hybrids and electric cars powered from renewable energy. He will also explain the risks and benefits of the alternatives.
Dr Lamb worked for 28 years in the motor industry in Australia and around the world. From 1992 to 2003 he was Chief Executive of the CSIRO Australian Automotive Technology Centre and was responsible for the CSIRO Low Emission Vehicle project that resulted in two hybrid electric show cars. Now retired from CSIRO, Dr Lamb consults on automotive technology and strategy.
Date: Wednesday 12th May
Venue: Stonnington Depot, 293 Tooronga Road, Malvern
Time: 7pm – 8.30pm
Limited seating, registration is essential. Go to www.stonnington.vic.gov.au/environmentalevents or call 8290 2061.