Cross-sector leaders unite to push for climate action
5 October 2020 at 5:25 pm
A high profile board will help develop new strategies, partnerships and investment for climate action
A group of community sector heavy weights have been assembled to lead a new climate initiative aiming to set Australia’s economy and society up for future success.
Chaired by impact investment expert Rosemary Addis AM, the board will advise Griffith University’s Climate Ready Initiative (CRI) on preparing Australia for the transition toward a net-zero emissions future.
Other board members include John Hewson AM, Ann Sherry AO, Anthony McAvoy SC, Helen Szoke AO, Sophia Hamblin Wang and Professor Brendan Mackey.
The initiative will partner with government, business, industry and communities, and will focus on understanding the barriers and enablers to climate action, enabling climate resilient development and net zero carbon emissions economies, and ensuring climate actions are fair and equitable, and contributing to broader sustainable development goals.
Addis told Pro Bono News she hoped the high profile collective would bring attention to why the country needed to act immediately on climate change.
“We want to paint a picture for people that the issues of climate action, quality jobs and the kind of communities that we want are not separate but actually interconnected,” Addis said.
“It’s also a matter for everyone, and you can see that reflected in the board and the experience that people are bringing to it, to bring the different parts of society together in collective action.”
She said that Australia currently didn’t have coordinated strategies around transitioning jobs, or even engaging with the community around why it was so important to speed up the transition, and that had to change.
“The better equipped we are to respond, the better position we will be in to ensure that we can continue to be prosperous into the future and be responsive and proactive rather than dealing with the shock,” she said.
CRI executive director Sam Mackay added that the board would support the development of climate-ready business cases, pilot projects, and upscaling projects.
“By supporting the development of climate-ready business cases, pilot projects and upscale projects, the CRI will ensure Australia is prepared,” Mackay said.
Find out more about the CRI here.
