Climate Action

ANU Public Lecture as part of the Talanoa Dialogue

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(Photo: ANU College of Science)

I took part in a public lecture today presented by the ANU College of Science as part of the ‘Talanoa Dialogue’, a global forum where climate experts, civil society and governments discuss climate action solutions and how to best meet the challenges of implementing the Paris Climate Agreement.

I spoke alongside Mr Patrick Suckling, Australia’s Ambassador for the Environment; H.E. Mr Luke Daunivalu, Fiji’s High Commissioner to Australia; Mr Rafal Jarosz, First Counsellor responsible for economic affairs for the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Canberra; Dr Jane Curnow, Australian Centre for International Agricultural Development; and Ms Rachel England, a PhD student at the ANU who is learning from Indigenous peoples (mostly women) their ways of sustainable living.

Learn more about the Talanoa Dialogue through the UN Climate Change website.

Talanoa is a traditional word used in Fiji and across the Pacific to reflect a process of inclusive, participatory and transparent dialogue. The purpose of Talanoa is to share stories, build empathy and to make wise decisions for the collective good. The process of Talanoa involves the sharing of ideas, skills and experience through storytelling.

Australia playing catch-up on climate

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Cyclone Pam tearing through Kiribati in 2015 (Photo: Mike Roman/Red Cross Australia/EPA).

Another comment, this time for a piece by Paul Karp in The Guardian that covers a recently released internal government report which found that Australia’s climate action policies have been derailed since 2013. I pointed out that before then, DFAT’s climate action initiatives were starting to take off, but then climate objectives were “stripped out and investments closed down”. I also mentioned that:

“After five years, it is only now that there are early signs of recovery and climate change is being considered as a more important component of the aid program. Compared to our allies, like the UK, we are now playing catch-up.”

Upcoming: People, planet, peace. ACFID National Conference 2018.

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Earth at night

I’m looking forward to speaking at the 2018 National Conference of the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID), in my role as ACFID Development Economics Advisor. The overarching theme this year is Human Rights in the 21st Century, the two-day conference will be held 30-31 October in Sydney. You can register your attendance here.

In this timely period, this year’s ACFID National Conference will ask how the Australian international development and humanitarian sector can apply human rights in the light of contemporary challenges.  

Through the overarching themes of “People  Planet  Peace”; the conference will bring forth content on human rights as they relate directly to the wellbeing of people, healthy ecosystems and the environment and in the broader context of peace, civil society and human security.  

From reflections about what is happening out in the world, to deeper explorations of particular focus areas and through the diversity of voices brought to you this year; ACFID National Conference 2018 will inspire and challenge your ways of working – offering critiques and stimulating debate on the integration of human rights with development and humanitarian efforts and what we need to focus on as the world continues to fluctuate around us.  

Implications of Climate Change for Australia’s National Security

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Follow this link to read a timely and significant report prepared by the Australian Government’s Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee, released on 17 May 2018.

I gave expert advice in my capacity as Development Economics Adviser in the Australian Council for International Development; you can find some of my contributions on pages 77 and 84.

ACFID’s submission to the inquiry is available here.

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