World leaders in climate action will call on the 'grand coalition' of government and business to urgently step up their ambition to reduce carbon emissions as the Carbon Market Institute's two-day Australasian Emissions Reduction Summit kicks off today, online and at the ICC Sydney.
Today the Summit will hear from government leaders, including Prime Minister of Fiji, Frank Bainimarama, NSW Treasurer and Minister for Energy and Environment, Matt Kean, business leaders including Shayne Elliot, ANZ CEO, decision makers and influencers who are grappling with the opportunities in the most critical economic transition in generations.
There is still time to register for a complimentary media pass to attend the Summit virtually and you are welcome to come and go as time allows. The full program is here.Video and transcripts of talks are available (please note embargoes) and more will be uploaded shortly after sessions. An end of day wrap of key takeouts will also be provided.
Quotes are attributable to speakers as indicated.
Frank Bainimarama, Prime Minister of Fiji and Chair, Pacific Island Forum:
"Fiji has called for a Grand Coalition to fight climate change, recognising that collaboration across borders and hemispheres and between economies and sectors was needed to tackle the climate crisis...Governments, of course, continue to play a major role. They have critical levers for change at their disposal. Businesses and the decision-makers that drive them also have direct ability to enact change."
Laurence Tubiana, CEO of the European Climate Foundation:
"Australia could be a world leader in green energy, and at the same time with all the precious natural resources you have, to protect them for tourism or for your [other] activities. You have enormous potential in job creation, understanding that it has to be carried on in a just way, in particular for the people and the regions affected by this shift from fossil fuel to renewable energy."
William Lin, Executive Vice President, Regions, Cites and Solutions, BP:
"In the US, the green economy now employs around 10 times as many people as the hydrocarbon industry despite the recent boom years in oil and gas."
"For the energy transition to work, we have to be able to put people into work. Collectively, we have to bring people on the journey, provide confidence and offer opportunities. People quite rightly need to know that a transition will offer them jobs as well as affordable energy and user-friendly and accessible mobility. And there are real reasons for optimism."
Speakers today additional to those quoted above will include the following:
The Q&A function allows all attendees to ask questions throughout the vast majority of sessions, which will be addressed where possible by the moderator.
Matt Kean, NSW Minister for Energy and Environment
Shayne Elliott, CEO, ANZ
Frédéric Baudry, Senior VP Fuels & Low Carbon Solutions, Asia Pacific, BP
Fiona Wild, VP, Sustainability & Climate Change, BHP
Michele O'Neil, President, Australian Council of Trade Unions
A/Prof. Malte Meinshausen, Director, Climate & Energy College, University of Melbourne
Rachel Kyte, Co-Chair, Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Initiative
Kobad Bhavnagri, Global Head of Industry & Building Decarbonisation, BloombergNEF
Marc Vanheukelen, Ambassador at Large for Climate Diplomacy, European Union
Tom Ridsdill-Smith, Senior Vice President, Climate, Woodside Energy
Rory Lonergan, ED & Head of Infrastructure, Clean Energy Finance Corporation
Susie Smith, CEO, Australian Industry Greenhouse Network
Gregg Buskey, Executive GM, Strategy & Business Development, Shell Energy Australia
David Parker, Chair, Clean Energy Regulator
Dean Yibarbuk, Director, Indigenous Carbon Industry Network
Rowan Foley, CEO, Aboriginal Carbon Foundation
As part of today's program, Renewable Energy Hub will be discussing its new carbon price benchmarking tool
Tomorrow's program features Angus Taylor, Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction and Chris Bowen, Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Energy amongst other leaders from business, government and civil society. See program and register here.
CMI CEO John Connor said, "This year's Summit is our largest yet, and comes as Australia looks ahead to a crucial decade in climate action at a time of unprecedented investor, international and community scrutiny. Following COP26 and with a looming Federal election in Australia, the event is designed to include a special focus on more ambitious 2030 scenarios and the extra policies needed en route to net-zero emissions by or before 2050."
