..EBA series..
'New markets, new industries, new jobs'
Investing in speeding and scaling up
Australia's competitiveness in the Green Economy
This Environment Business Australia series of events is about the emerging and smart technologies, today's expertise and tomorrow's infrastructure, progressive capital and strategic policy - in short, the BIG ideas, coupled of course with the political will - that can shape sustainable and long-term prosperity.
Britain, Europe, USA and China are fast-tracking the 'Green Economy'. Australia is lagging behind. We can only catch up if we harness our strong comparative advantages and develop the strategies necessary to build the transition to 'new markets, new industries and new jobs'.
ET is now a faster growing sector than IT! The challenges are great, but so are the opportunities in replacing or upgrading outdated infrastructure and systems, and building the next generation of capital stock. While all future capital investment will be evaluated against climate, food, and fuel security issues, it is hardly an impost on society to tackle problems and create sustainable wealth - especially when much of the necessary action comes at no net cost, provides long-term wealth generation and offers co-benefits to the community (like cleaner air, less congested roads, more fertile soils and less tax paid to support overseas interests).
Let's get on with it!
- Let's think and act like a 'clean power park' by harnessing our vast endowments of renewable energy
- Let's avoid becoming the next Nauru by value-adding to our resources and making sure that Australians get the full benefit of their assets
- Let's be as efficient as possible with energy and materials
- Let's rebuild soil carbon across millions of hectares of degraded soil and improve agricultural productivity. And let's mimic nature to capture CO2 and produce biofuels that don't compete with food production
- Let's make our cities and transport systems the smartest in the world
- Let's make sure that wherever possible we transform problems into commercial opportunities that will be good for people, the environment, our economy and our security.
Over the next few months, EBA will roll-out a series of capital city forums and webinars focusing on investing in wealth-generating projects.
These will be followed by a high level international conference in early 2011 showcasing Australia's best and brightest friends who will tell us that progressive growth towards a Green Economy requires vision and leadership (rather than propping up the historical imperatives of the 19th Century and the free-riders whose profit margin is so opaquely boosted by the unpriced collateral damage of waste, pollution and greenhouse gas emissions).
The objective is to assemble the real visionaries with 'how to' expertise to shape the future that Australians want, backed up with exemplar case studies from around the world. Business leaders, scientists, strategists, planners, architects, technology and infrastructure developers, financiers and policy makers have vital roles in galvanising the Green Economy - EBA will be the 'catalyst' bringing them together to incubate commercial scale projects.
A 'solutions clearing house' will be a permanent web-based 'Green Bay' for goods, services, technologies, ideas, case studies - a one stop shop to sell or buy 'green and smart'.
Background information sheet on the project approach that future events in capital cities will be based on: Click to download file
24 June 2010
Power Park Australia, Sydney
First event in the series.
Date: Thursday 24 June, Sydney
Time: 12.30 pm to 8.00 pm
Venue: Hosted by PricewaterhouseCoopers, Level 10, 201 Sussex Street
Registration: All delegates must be registered. EBA Members: $150 + GST ($165.00). Non-Members: $225 + GST ($247.50)
Can Australia exploit sufficient renewable energy source to power most if its economy by 2040 or even 2030? Could it become a 'clean energy superpower' exporting low emission energy to Asia? And how feasible is it to think that Australia could value-add to its resources endowment by becoming a regional hub for minerals processing and even supply-chain manufacturing by co-locating energy intensive industry alongside solar thermal, geothermal, marine energy?
Leading experts take us through the opportunities as well as the challenges to scaling up renewable energy technology, building the necessary supply and transmission infrastructure, and harnessing the money to get it all done. They will also examine potential limits to the vision.
Welcome
Fiona Wain, CEO, Environment Business Australia
Overview - Green Economy renewable energy projects - delivering the potential
Stewart Taggart, Director, Desertec Australia - plans to harness solar thermal energy from the Sahara to provide electricity to Europe are big and bold. An introduction to how Australia could harness renewables on an even bigger scale.
Which emerging sources of renewable energy have 'scale' potential? What's the delivery system? And how fast can it be done?
Bertus de Graaf, CEO, Panax - How far off is industrial scale geothermal?
Dr Keith Lovegrove, Associate Professor and Head of Solar Thermal Group, ANU; Head of Solar Thermal at IT Power - Australia, India and the future of the race to harness concentrated solar thermal energy at scale
Dr Michael Ottaviano, CEO, Carnegie - Multiple application marine energy
What's the delivery system?
Albert Goller, CEO, Siemens - Picture the Future: Australia - Energy. Planning for a big, smart, fast, reliable grid and overhauling the transmission system to capitalise on new sources of energy
Panel discussion
Afternoon tea break
'Power Park' Australia
Keynote - Professor Stephen Schneider, one of the
world's leading climate change scientists is a Professor at
Stanford University specialising in science
and policy. He is a joint winner of the 2007 Nobel Peace
Prize and has recently published 'Science as a contact sport:
Inside the battle to save Earth's climate'. (See below for bio)
Discussion with delegates
The benefits of aggregating projects
Jonathan Whalley, CEO, Windesal - Local supplies of desalinated water
Mobilising capital to make it all happen in time
Peter Mansfield, Head of Project and Infrastructure Finance, Investec Bank - Galvanising capital to build Australia's next competitve edge
Andrew Petersen, Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers - Clarity, consistency and encouragement needed in the regulatory framework
Drinks and discussion
Open discussion over drinks with speakers, panelists and delegates
Networking and nibbles
Stephen Schneider Bio
Stephen Schneider is one of the world's leading experts on climate change. He is a Stanford University Professor specialising in climate change science and policy. He is the Melvin and Joan Lane Professor for Interdisciplinary Environmental Studies, Professor of Biology, Professor (by courtesy) of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and a Senior Fellow in the Woods Institute for the Environment.
Internationally recognised for research, policy analysis and outreach in climate change, Dr. Schneider focuses on climate change science, integrated assessment of ecological and economic impacts of human-induced climate change, and identifying viable climate policies and technological solutions. He has consulted widely with governments around the world and with United States federal agencies and/or White House staff in the Nixon, Carter, Reagan, G.H.W. Bush, Clinton, G.W. Bush and Obama administrations.
His latest book 'Science as a contact sport: Inside the battle to save Earth's climate' has been published as a history of the global warming science and policy debate since 1970 and a rebuttal of the claims made by climate change sceptics.
Dr. Schneider received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering and Plasma Physics from Columbia University in 1971. He studied the role of greenhouse gases and suspended particulate material on climate as a postdoctoral fellow at NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies. He was awarded a postdoctoral fellowship at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in 1972 and was a member of the scientific staff of NCAR from 1973-1996, where he co-founded the Climate Project.
He was honoured in 1992 with a MacArthur Fellowship for his ability to integrate and interpret the results of global climate research through public lectures, seminars, classroom teaching, environmental assessment committees, media appearances, Congressional testimony, and research collaboration with colleagues. He also received, in 1991, the American Association for the Advancement of Science/ Westinghouse Award for Public Understanding of Science and Technology, for furthering public understanding of environmental science and its implications for public policy. He was elected to membership in the US National Academy of Sciences in 2002.
Dr Schneider continues his work as a lead author on IPCC reports and is focusing on assessing key vulnerabilities and risks of climate change and the detection and attribution of climate changes and impacts. In 2007, after decades of work, Dr. Schneider, along with four generations of IPCC authors, received a collective Nobel Peace Prize for their joint efforts in 2007.
Stephen Schneider did a national tour of Australia for Greenhouse '88 event ,which opened up the public discussion of climate change policy in Australia, and in 2006 spent 6 months as an Adelaide Thinker in Residence, producing his report to the SA government: Climate Change - Risks and Opportunities. The concept of 'power parks' was one of his top ten recommendations.
4 March 2010
The Value of the Environment with Ken Henry, Secretary to The Treasury
Dr Ken Henry, Secretary to the Treasury, will speak on the value and valuation of the environment, elaborating on the discussion of sustainability, wellbeing and the environment in the Government's 2010 Intergenerational Report 'Australia to 2050: Future challenges'. The environment is of value for current and future generations, both in itself and as an input to This important EBA event is over-subscribed but please contact Valerie Orton at the EBA office on 02 9358 1800, if you wish to be added to the waiting list in case there are delegate cancellations.
2 February 2010
EBA forum on a more radical approach to financing low carbon projects with Peter Young,Strategy Director, Enviros
This special EBA Forum discussed the implications of a Report, published in the UK by the Aldersgate Group, which argued that a more radical approach to financing low carbon projects is needed to ensure carbon targets are met.
Coming soon...
Mega projects - renewable energy projects capable of minerals processing and manufacturing while delivering green electricity; and algae sequestration of CO2 from coal-fired power plants - a sink and a source of abundant biodiesel.
Green jobs - the transition to a low carbon economy will build new markets, new industries and millions of new jobs.
Benefactor member boardroom lunches - by invitation to benefactor members only. Recent events have included meetings with Professor David Karoly (Sydney) and Professor Stephen Schneider (Copenhagen) two of the world's leading climate change scientists; and Evan Thornley, CEO Australia, Better Place developers of electric vehicle infrastructure. Previous meetings have included leading experts like Peter Head, Director, Arup; Blair Comley, Deputy Secretary of Department of Climate Change (CPRS); Professor Ross Garnaut; former EU Ambassador H.E. Bruno Julien; H.E. Helen Liddell, British High Commissioner; Sir David King, former Chief Scientific Advisor to the British Government; Professor Tim Flannery; Dr Ken Henry, Secretary to The Treasury; H.E. Sharyn Minahan, Australia's Ambassador to Denmark; Anthony Collins, head of new market development for the ASX; Dr Roger Wilkins, Head of Government's Wilkins Inquiry.
26 - 28 October 2009
Carbon Market Expo Australasia 2009
Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre
Carbon Market Expo Australasia 2009 will again be the most exciting and significant conference and trade fair on Australia's carbon market calendar. At the inaugural Expo in October 2008, more than 1100 delegates and 81 trade exhibitors attended from 27 countries. Highlights can be viewed at www.carbonexpo.com.au. The 2009 Expo will be held from 26 to 28 October at the Gold Coast Convention Centre, timed to follow the Australian Parliament's consideration of pending emissions trading legislation, and to precede the UN Climate Change conference in Copenhagen in December.
Many businesses operating in the Australian carbon market 'sector' are leading governments in their response to climate change and emissions management, and will again be attending Carbon Market Expo to do business with the suppliers of carbon market products and services. Online registration and further information - for sponsors, delegates and trade exhibitors - is now available at www.carbonexpo.com.au
The Expo is co-hosted by EBA and the Asia-Pacific Emissions Trading Forum, with foundation support from the Queensland Government and the Gold Coast City Council. The program is currently being finalized, and interested sponsors, to join Macquarie Bank and Baker & McKenzie, are encouraged to contact Jack Whelan at EBA as soon as possible. Please download the sponsorship prospectus here.
Wednesday 14 October 2009, Sydney, 3.00-5.30 p.m.
EBA invites you to a special forum on Australia's climate change policy
With Blair Comley, Deputy Secretary, Department of Climate Change and Louise Hand, Australia's Climate Change Ambassador
Will the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) be passed by the Senate before Copenhagen? What amendments can be made in the next few weeks? And how flexible will the CPRS be once passed into legislation? How speedily will it be able to respond to new scientific data, changing international levels of action, and technology solutions?
Blair Comley has executive oversight for the emissions trading scheme and will be giving an overview of its status in the lead up to the Senate vote. As the Government and Opposition begin discussions on amendments to the CPRS on 19 October, this is an excellent opportunity for EBA members to let their views be known.
Louise Hand has responsibility for international negotiations and will be providing an update on the status of Australian and international developments - this will include outcomes of the recent UN meeting in New York, the G20 meeting and the Bangkok negotiations.
Following an overview, Blair and Louise, will be joined by a panel of experts on energy efficiency, renewable energy, biosequestration and land management, industry transition, and project financing.
This is an important opportunity to discuss Australia's domestic and international climate change policy with two of the Government's leading policy makers.
Prior to the event registered attendees will be sent details of venue; some background reading material; and biographies of our two speakers.
Hosted by Commonwealth Bank Australia at Level 19, 201 Sussex Street, Darling Park, Sydney.
The Forum will be followed by a dinner with EBA Benefactor Members.
Contact Valerie Orton at the EBA office. The registration form can also be returned by fax to 02 9358 1555.
Wednesday 23 September
Environment Business Australia and Parsons Brinckerhoff
invite you to 'Mega projects - mega solutions'
The fifth forum in the global green new deal series 'New markets, new industries and new jobs'
Date: Wednesday 23 September, 2009, Melbourne
Time: 3.00 - 6.45 p.m. followed by drinks and networking
Venue: Parkview Hotel, 562 St Kilda Road, Melbourne
Registration: EBA members $75 + GST, non members $150 +GST
The scale of the solution must be at least commensurate with the size of the problem.
EBA champions debate on some of the big steps that business and government can take together to build 'new markets, new industries and new jobs'.
Program
3.00 Welcome - Fiona Wain, Chief Executive Officer, Environment Business Australia
Facilitator - Darren Bilsborough, Director of Sustainability, Parsons Brinckerhoff
Panellists will each give a 5 minute overview of their cutting-edge approach - this will be followed by discussion with delegates:
- Andrew Lawson, Managing Director, MBD Energy - algae sequestration of CO2 from coal-fired power plants
- Bo Nilsson, Manager, ABB - Desertec Industrial Initiative. From Africa to Europe - electricity from solar generated electricity and the need for a HVDC grid
- Dr Tom Denniss, Founder, Oceanlinx - marine energy, the sleeping giant
- Fiona Wain, CEO, Environment Business Australia - 5 big commercial project approaches to tackle climate change.
Download: Registration form
28 July 2009
Carbon biosequestration forum
Fourth in the series 'Building the commercial marketplace for new industries and new jobs'
Hosted by Environment Business Australia and Baker & McKenzie
This forum focused on boosting food security and building landscape resilience via soil, ocean and terrestrial biosequestration of carbon
Date: Tuesday 28 July 2009, Sydney
Time: 3.00 - 5.00 p.m. followed by drinks and networking
Place: Baker & McKenzie, Level 27, AMP Centre, 50 Bridge Street, Sydney
Hosts: Environment Business Australia and Baker & McKenzie
Flows and stocks of greenhouse gases will continue to grow until a global agreement on emissions reduction is reached. But climate scientists say that it is crucial to reduce the atmospheric overload of carbon in the near term - so what practical steps can individual countries take now?
Each of our expert panellists proposed ways to significantly drawdown 'legacy' carbon using biosequestration approaches - soil, rangeland management, crops/native vegetation/forestry, and oceans. They also proposed research priorities and funding mechanisms that can be fast-tracked to begin before the delayed CPRS (June 2011).
This EBA forum took an in-depth look at the technologies and approaches that will deliver the best biosequestration carbon sinks while helping to rebuild degraded soils, boost food production and improve water security. The outcome was a position paper to Government.
Program
3.00 Welcome - Fiona Wain, Chief Executive Officer, Environment Business Australia
- Tony Lovell - Director, Soil Carbon
- Professor Leigh Sullivan - Director, Plant Stone Technology
- Peter Cosier - Executive Director, Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists
- Dr John White - Executive Director, Ignite Energy Resources
- Dr David Brand - Managing Director, New Forests
- John Ridley - Managing Director, Ocean Nourishment
5.00 Drinks and networking
29 April 2009
YES WE CAN - be energy efficient, but where is the national strategy?
Part 3 in the forum series - Australia's role in the "Global green new deal"
Date: Wednesday 29 April, Sydney
Time: 2.30 - 5.00 p.m. followed by drinks and networking
Place: Tusculum House, 3 Manning Street, Potts Point, Sydney
Hosts: Environment Business Australia and The Climate Institute
Leading experts outlined the most effective ways to roll out major energy productivity programs - a key element of building new markets, new industries and new jobs as we tackle climate change in the middle of economic turmoil.
Energy efficiency is the fastest and most economical way to reduce carbon emissions at industrial, commercial and household levels. The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that energy efficiency has the potential to achieve over 35% of the entire greenhouse gas reduction task.
Europe and the United States have signalled that energy efficiency will be a central plank in carbon abatement and mitigation steps.
So, why doesn't Australia have a national energy productivity strategy when there are considerable cost savings for industry, commerce, households and consolidated revenue?
Program
2.30 Welcome - Robert Purves, Chairman, Environment Business Australia, member of the Copenhagen Climate Council
2.40 Danish Consul General Helle Myrthue - short overview of the World Business Summit on Climate Change (Copenhagen, May 24-26) and the UNFCCC international negotiations on climate change (Copenhagen, December 7-17).
Expert panelists - 5 minute overviews
What are the drivers needed to roll out energy productivity innovation in Australia?
Empowering the community for the transition
- The role of the energy retailer (TBA)
- Mark Mills - Partner, Generation Investment Management
Why can't politicians agree on a way forward? What are the targets and policies necessary to tackle the climate change challenge?
- Senator Christine Milne - Climate Change and Energy leader for the Green Party
- Senator Nick Xenophon - Independent Senator (invited)
5.30 Drinks and networking
18 March 2009
YES WE CAN - Australia's role in the "Global green new deal"
Part 2, 3.00 - 5.30 pm, Wednesday 18 March, Melbourne
Hosted by Commonwealth Bank of Australia, 385 Bourke Street
Where are the major new commercial opportunities? In this second 'overview' forum EBA continued the theme of building new markets, new industries and new jobs as the world tackles climate change and rebuilds markets. Our eminent speakers gave an overview of the current situation and our expert panellists outlined the major sources of renewable energy ready for large scale deployment; a restructure of transportation systems; and the potential to remove 'legacy' carbon from the atmosphere while replenishing soil carbon and mineral levels necessary for food production.
Program
3.00 Welcome - Robert Purves, Chairman of Environment Business Australia, member of the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists, member of the Copenhagen Climate Council
3.05 Overview of the latest science on the climate change challenge from one of the world's leading climate scientists - Dr David Karoly, School of Earth Sciences, University of Melbourne; IPCC author; member of the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists
3.20 Overview of the state of financial and economic markets - Nick Sankey, Head of Utilities, Energy & Renewable Solutions, Commonwealth Bank
Panel session on smart, efficient and commercially viable solutions
3.30 Four-minute overviews from expert panellists - their proposed solution current impediments, potential reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, impact on the national economy; followed by in-depth discussion with delegates
Transforming mobility
Guy Pross, Director Government Affairs, Better Place Australia (electric vehicle)
Bringing renewable energy to scale
Solar thermal energy - Dr Keith Lovegrove (TBC), ANU
Marine energy - Dr. Michael Ottaviano, Managing Director, Carnegie
Biosequestration of carbon
Soil carbon replenishment - Dr John White
Biochar - TBA
Plant stone technology - Professor Leigh Sullivan, Director, Southern Cross Geo-Science, Southern Cross University
Rangeland carbon - Tony Lovell, Director, Soil Carbon Pty Ltd
Forest sinks - Dr Andrew Grant, CEO, CO2 Australia
5.30 Drinks and networking
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