Climate Conversations

Professor Ian Lowe (pictured) is an entertaining speaker who can even make you smile and laugh while explaining the reasons behind some of our most tragic behaviours; behaviours that are eroding almost everything that is good about our world. Prof Lowe, and his Giffith University counterpart, Professor Brendan Mackey, were the guests on a webinar - "How much DNA do you share with an Octopus? The S...

Simon Kerr (pictured) assembled the group, " Music for a Warming World " and Robin Davidson talks about Canberra's " Rebus Theatre ", of which he is the artistic director. Today's (September 12) webinar was organized and presented by the Australian Earth Laws Alliance .

The question on the minds of many is will the passion for action on climate change by Prince Charles vanish now that he is King Charles (pictured)? Stories discussing that issue can be found on The Conversation: " It would be appropriate for King Charles to remain strong on climate: Albanese " and SBS: " Will Charles as King mean an end to his climate change activism? " And it was a question...

Dr Scott Abbinga (pictured) was my first physical contact with Healthy Futures .  Scott was at the recent Doctors for the Environment Melbourne conference on an information stand talking with conference attendees about the group. And check out the Benjamin Preiss story from The Melbourne Age: " ‘I haven’t paid a bill since 2008’: Country towns empower themselves ". Other climate links are: "...

Joëlle Gregis wrote the book, " Humanity's Moment ", with many goals in mind, among them, helping all of us better understand the climate crisis and while it is an issue clearly impacting all life on Earth, it continues as a rubicon among people, even friends. Other climate links: " Heat and Health "; " UN chief slams climate change 'insanity' on Pakistan flood visit "; " New study more than tripl...

Warwick Cathro (pictured) from the Canberra Conservation Council was a significant contributor to a workshop at the Better Futures Australia Forum early this month where the discussion revolved around making low-carbon transport accessible to all. James Whelan for Climate Action Network Australia summed up the first of the two sessions of " Making zero emissions transport accessible to all ". Enjo...

Fiona Armstrong (pictured) founded and now leads the Melbourne-based Climate and Health Alliance . So it was natural that she reported on findings from two workshops about climate change and health at this year's Better Futures Australia Forum held in Canberra early this month. Several people gathered on the stage at the end of the two-day event to report on findings for various groups; groups tha...

Climate scientist and author, Joëlle Gergis (pictured), talks about her new book, " Humanity's Moment: A climate scientist case for hope" , with the Research Director from the Climate Council , Dr Simon Bradshaw. The discussion between Dr Gergis and Dr Bradshaw was a Climate Council Bookclub event. Dr Gergis felt she had no option but to write the book as she had access to a vast array of informat...

Pastor Ray Minniecon (pictured) spoke on the opening day of the recent Better Futures Australian Forum in Canberra pleading with Australia's decision makers to listen to and work with the country's indigenous people. The powerful address by Pastor Minnniecon helped set the agenda for the two-day forum that came across as optimistic and collaborative, all embedded in a muted excitement arising from...

Kelly O'Shannassy (pictured) leads the " Australian Conservation Foundation " as one of a panel of five speakers who talked optimistically about the future at Canberra's " Better Futures Australia " two-day forum. With Kelly was the co-founder of " Zero Industrials and Sunshot Industries ", Clark Butler; The Executive Director of " Original Power " and descendant of the Yorta Yorta people, Karrina...

Australian Capital Territory Chief Minister Andrew Barr (pictured) claims his government is a national and world leader in taking the jurisdiction to a serious reduction in carbon dioxide emissions. Minister Barr was the first speaker on the opening day of the Better Futures Australia Forum held in Canberra on September 6 and 7. He saw the forum as both critical in that it would solidify ideas and...

Nidala Barker (pictured) brought her music to the Better Futures Australia conference, both entertaining and inspiring people. Her appearance and the Canberra Conference was aimed at inspiring people and it most certainly did that and it was only just lunch time on the first day.

Dr Rebecca Huntley (pictured) had a climate change epiphany about three years ago and was at the recent iDEA Conference organized by the Doctors for the Environment , encouraging medical practitioners to engage with climate issues in any way they can. The Sydney-based social researcher has described her commitment to climate change issues as something of a "hero project" and has written about it i...

Heather Campbell (pictured) talked about "Living in Harmony" during the Saturday program of the " iDEA Conference ", an annual event organized by the Australian arm of Doctors for the Environment . Heather, who has a long involvement in working to protect our environment, is the CEO of Bush Heritage, Australia . Enjoy " Music for a Warming World ".

Tim Buckley (pictured) "Zoomed" into the annual Doctors for the Environment conference and using his long, impeccable and thorough research told those attending, both in person and virtually, that it was not Australia's domestic emissions that would disrupt life on Earth, instead our country's export of fossil fuels. Australia, he explained, is the world's third largest exporter of fossil fuels. E...

Professor Judith Brett (pictured) talked about the changing political landscape on Saturday morning at the annual iDEA Conference , organized by the Australian arm of Doctors for the Environment . Professor Brett, who wrote the Quarterly Essay, " The Coal Curse ", said the new Federal Opposition had almost made itself irrelevant, particular when its leader, Peter Dutton, elected to avoid the recen...

Professor Brett Sutton (pictured) was the keynote speaker at the Doctors for the Environment, Australia, conference staged over three days at the Unversity of Melbourne . The iDEA conference attracted people from throughout Australia, both in person and virtually, and had the overt theme of "Time to Act". Professor Sutton is Victoria’s Chief Health Officer and undertakes a variety of statutory fun...

Louise Hardman (pictured) watched a turtle die and realized she had to do something to help remove plastic from our waterways and oceans. It was a classic: "If not me, who, if not now, when? From those years of thinking, following the turtle's death, and years of hard work came " Louise Hardman's 'Shruder' invention recycles plastic cleaned from ocean ". And out of that came the " Plastic Collecti...

Here at Climate Conversations we are unable to comprehend why it is many people can't understand the threats implicated in climate change - is what we are seeing wilful ignorance or actual ignorance? The rush to buy the rather expensive Lamborghini sports cars must, surely, be a combination of both actual ignorance and wilful ignorance - read the story " Sold out: Lamborghini cars out of stock unt...

Joëlle Gergis writes about " Humanity's Moment: A climate scientist's case for hope " and the publication of that new book coincides, coincidently, with Pakistan's devastating new floods, discussed in the SBS story: " ‘Climate dystopia at our doorstep’: Tens of millions battle Pakistan floods as death toll rises ". Other climate crisis stories are: " ‘Extremely dangerous’ heat will be much more co...

Tatura Transition Towns' annual Film Festival on August 27 in the town's Victory Hall had a fascinating vibe about it as about 40 people listened to an array of speakers talk about their role in helping people enjoy a more sustainable life. The City of Greater Shepparton's environment manager, Sharon Terry, explained the council's Climate Emergency Action Plan ; Tatura man, Royden James, talked ab...

Jennifer Uchendu (pictured) is the Nigerian woman behind the South African TEAP movement and here launches the program with the aid of Sarah Jaquette Ray from the Cal Poly Humbolt. Uchendu is also behind the Sustyvibes movement and Ray's latest book, " A Field Guide to Climate Anxiety: How to Keep Your Cool on a Warming Planet " discusses many of the issues considered by "TEAP" and Sustyvibes. Wat...

Jonathan Barnett and Matthijs Bouw joined the Smart Growth Network to outline how adaptation and preventive measures can address climate-related threats, including flooding along coastlines and rivers, flash floods from extreme rain events, drought, wildfire, long periods of high heat, and food shortages. Between them, Barnett and Bouw wrote the book: " Managing the Climate Crisis: Designing and B...

Professor Greg Marston (pictured) from the University of Queensland is the co-chair of the 2022 Basic Income Earth Network three-day congress coming up at the university's St Lucia campus on September 26-28. A host of information can be found on the congress website - BIEN 2022 Congress . Professor Marston has urged those from beyond academia to come along to the congress and hear about what the b...

New Zealand's PM, Jacinda Ardern discusses the challenges of climate change in The Guardian story " New Zealand’s flood-prone areas not ready to cope with climate crisis, Ardern says ". It's been 30 years since Al Gore's book, " Earth in the Balance: Forging a New Common Purpose " (pictured) was published and it's still relevant and important reading. Other climate links are: " Cycling Like the Du...