Speeches held at the Act on Climate Festival opening night and film evening in Geelong in November 2015.
On this page you have an opportunity to listen to thought-provoking and inspiring speeches held at two events where residents in Geelong got together to focus on how their community can act on climate and build a better, safer future for all.
Further below you can listen to the key note speeches one by one, as separate audio files, or you can listen to them as they were broadcasted in The Sustainable Hour no. 106 on 94.7 The Pulse on 27 January 2016, in one stretch of 52 minutes, here:
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The festival’s opening evening featured keynote speeches from prominent experts in the fields of climate change, renewable energy, and economics, followed by a discussion panel with keynote speakers and local climate change representatives.
The festival’s film evening screened Naomi Klein’s documentary film ‘This Changes Everything’, which was followed by short speeches by local community leaders. A selection of the speeches are lined up below:
Festival opening night
Climate change is back on the agenda
By Lisa Neville
“We want Victoria to again be a leader in the political sphere and provide leadership across the community when it comes to climate change.”
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Lisa Neville is Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Water in the Victoria State Government and is a member for Bellarine in the Victorian Legislative Assembly.
Lisa Neville’s speech was broadcasted on 94.7 The Pulse in Geelong on 2 December 2015 in The Sustainable Hour no 102:
Advocacy for climate action gains momentum
How the Geelong Council deals with climate change
By Councillor Andy Richards
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Andy Richards is Councillor at City of Greater Geelong where he holds the council’s sustainability portfolio. In his speech at the Act on Climate Festival’s opening night he spoke about the City of Greater Geelong Council’s strategies, initiatives and achievements – and about his hopes for the future. Andy Richards encouraged the audience to get more engaged on Twitter and Facebook and interact directly with the councillors on social media.
Climate change, crisis and opportunity
By David Karoly
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David Karoly is professor of Atmospheric Science at University of Melbourne, and a member of the Climate Change Authority which provides advice to the Australian government on climate change policies.
David Karoly’s speech was broadcasted on 94.7 The Pulse in Geelong on 2 December 2015 in The Sustainable Hour no 102:
Advocacy for climate action gains momentum
“We should be committing to greater emission reductions than the Turnbull government has taken to Paris. A fairer share for Australia would be to reduce emissions by at least 46% from 2005 levels by 2030, as recommended by the Climate Change Authority, and much more than the 26% to 28% current commitment.”
David Karoly
» The Age – 4 December 2015:
Global warming: what level of risk would you accept?
Climate justice and the role of community
By Victoria McKenzie-McHarg
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Victoria McKenzie-McHarg is Climate Manager at Australian Conservation Foundation. She was listed as one of The Age Melbourne Magazine’s top 100 most influential, inspirational, provocative and creative Victorians for her work. She is director of the Board at the Australian Conservation Foundation.
Victoria McKenzie-McHarg’s speech was broadcasted on 94.7 The Pulse in Geelong on 25 November 2015 in The Sustainable Hour no 101:
Mobilising for the world’s biggest climate march ever
The economics of climate change
By Bob Welch
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Bob Welsh is Executive Director of Sustainability Advisers and the former CEO of VIC Super. He was the founding Chairperson of the Investor Group on Climate Change Australia and New Zealand and is a world renowned pioneer in fostering the development of low-carbon investment strategies.
Bob Welsh’s speech was broadcasted on 94.7 The Pulse in Geelong on 25 November 2015 in The Sustainable Hour no 105:
Go fossil free – and tell your councillors to do the same
Pathways to a low carbon future – How Australia can build a prosperous clean economy
By Adam Majcher
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Adam Majcher is Engagement Manager at ClimateWorks. Working on building public understanding of the feasibility and benefits to a zero net emissions future. Adam formerly headed up The Climate Reality Project Australia – Al Gore’s climate change leadership program.
Adam Majcher’s speech was broadcasted on 94.7 The Pulse in Geelong on 9 December 2015 in The Sustainable Hour no 103:
Season’s greetings from the carbon frontier
Action plan for a low carbon economy
In his speech, Adam Majcher talked about the 2050 Pathways project which models one potential pathway to zero net emissions in Australia, and shows that it can be done.
While there are many other potential pathways, and the possibility of technological breakthroughs and innovations, the three steps which are suggested in this model should guide decision making, said Adam Majcher.
A youth perspective on climate change
By Jack Nyhof
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Jack Nyhof, 14, is a student at Geelong High School and founder of Earth People Animals.
Jack Nyhof’s speech was broadcasted on 94.7 The Pulse in Geelong on 25 November 2015 in The Sustainable Hour no 101:
Mobilising for the world’s biggest climate march ever
» More information about Jack Nyhof:
Geelong teen to take centre stage on climate
Suzette Jackson, director at Innate Ecology, was the evening’s master of ceremonies.
The evening concluded a panel debate, questions from the audience, and in the end, networking and informal talks over tea, coffee and finger food.
The Opening Night of the Act on Climate Festival was held from 7:00pm to 9:00pm on Friday 20 November 2015 at Simonds Stadium in Captains Room in the Premiership Stand, South Geelong. More info on www.actonclimatefestival.org
The festival occurred at the same time as a number of global campaigns, events and initiatives in the lead up to the United Nations Climate Summit in Paris.
» More information about the Act on Climate festival 2015
Film evening
Councillor Andy Richards
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Andy Richards is Councillor at City of Greater Geelong where he holds the council’s sustainability portfolio.
Sam Smith
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Sam Smith works at the Geelong council’s Future Proofing Geelong unit and is a Climate Reality Leader.
Doug Mann was master of ceremonies at the film screening event on 24 November 2015 at Courthouse in Geelong, which also had Rev Peter Martin, Vicar of the co-operating Anglican parishes of St George the Martyr and St James as a speaker.
» More information about the film evening on
www.actonclimatefestival.org/this_changes_everything
Climate call to the Geelong community
Climate change. A conversation starter or stopper? Often a lengthy discussion ensues or alternatively, it is ignored completely, because, well, it’s just too BIG. Climate change is an issue of such magnitude that no single person, city or even country has any real influence on it. So why make a festival about it – of all things?
“Let me tell you something surprising about climate change,” said festival coordinator Dan Cowdell: “While the United Nations announced last week that the national commitments of 146 nations won’t be solving the climate problem caused by our uncontrolled air pollution, the good news is that there is no lack of technical solutions lined up to solve the problem. There is only a lack of will. So, instead of waiting around for our politicians to make the right decisions, we really need to start acting at a local level – as individuals, as families, and as businesses.”
This is what Geelong’s first Act on Climate Festival is about. It sets out to provide the answers and create a new, positive path of climate action for the city. “We must enable our community to rise to the climate challenge as it confronts us,” said Dan Cowdell.
The Hon Lisa Neville, Minister for Climate, opened the festival with an evening of keynote speakers and a panel in the Captain’s Room at Simonds Stadium on Friday 20 November. The festival events – in particular a market day and a film night – showcased positive solutions that encouraged people to act on climate and, as the festival’s slogan went, help “build a better, safer, future for all”.
Photos and audio recordings on this page: by Mik Aidt. Published on climatesafety.info and in The Sustainable Hour on 94.7 The Pulse with permission from the speakers.
» Read more:
Why we need to act on climate
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