Conference on climate change
Electric cars are likely to be up for debate at the 16th Climate Change & Business Conference in Auckland.
The event, which takes place from September 9-10, comes at a critical time for the country as it determines its next set of emissions reduction budgets and targets.
Delivered by the Sustainable Business Council (SBC), Environmental Defence Society and Climate Leaders Coalition, it will bring together hundreds of delegates for debates and meetings around relevant topics.
These include the role of government and business in the transition, climate adaptation and resilience, transition planning, international trade and competition, nature, and the latest clean technologies and solutions.
This year’s programme will feature nearly 35 different sessions, and more than 100 New Zealand-based and international speakers.
One of the sessions, which starts at 11.20am on September 10, focuses on “driving the transition – the role of transport in a future-fit economy”.
It features Antonia Burbidge, the SBC’s head of climate and nature, Kirsten Corson, pictured, who chairs Drive Electric, Kiri Hannifin, chief sustainability and corporate affairs officer at Air NZ, and Paul Winton, of the All Aboard Transport Decarbonisation Trust.
Joelle Gergis, an award-winning Australian climate scientist and writer, will be delivering a keynote presentation on the global transition to net zero.
She says: “The science is telling us we’re not moving fast enough and the Pacific is one of the most vulnerable regions in the world when it comes to our changing climate.
“We know we have the tools and technology to get there. We need to keep looking at things like our use of fossil fuels, scaling up renewable energy, electrification of transport and the rehabilitation of deforested land.”
This year, the conference welcomes Auckland-based Beca as a foundation sponsor. Amelia Linzey, chief executive of the professional services consultancy company, recently joined the SBC’s advisory board, and will be moderating a panel on how business and government can work in unison.
“We all have a role to play in transitioning Aotearoa to a low-emissions economy, which makes connection points like the Climate Change & Business Conference all the more crucial,” says Linzey.
Registrations for the two-day event at the Viaduct Events Centre, Auckland, close on September 3. Full programme details and a list of speakers can be found on the conference’s website.
