Interview: Climate change epiphany leads to book and then 'The Clean Energy Solutions Index'

A Treaty with Victoria's indigenous people brings benefits to all, and our environment."Here comes the sun! The solar energy revolution – podcast";"Extreme weather costs Australia more than any other rich country, bar one";"Gondwana Link - connecting people, connecting nature";"Man arrested, accused of starting deadly Palisades Fire in California";"‘Vanish in a puff of smoke’: Monash plans to close climate crisis institute";"Extreme weather now costs Australians $4.5b a year. Better insurance options and loans would help us adapt".

Richard Denniss (pictured) was one of a trio of speakers at an event at Melbourne's Royal Society of Victoria to consider: "What is Australia Risking? Future Impacts of Climate Change".The event was convened by Climate Communications Australia and hosted by The Royal Society of Victoria, and offered a unique chance to discuss the report with Risk Assessment experts. The event focused on how climate change would affect Australia, and the scenarios for the 'cascading, compounding and concurrent disasters' that are emerging across the country.  The social and developmental implications of these impacts for future generations were discussed, along with what policies were needed to adapt to and mitigate the risks.The speakers were:Dr Andrew Watkins is a climate scientist in the School of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment at Monash University. He was previously at the Australian Climate Service, where he was a Lead Author of the National Climate Risk Assessment. For more than 10 years, he was the Head of Climate Prediction at the Bureau of Meteorology. Andrew is a Research Fellow at Climate Communications Australia. Dr Richard Denniss is the Executive Director of The Australia Institute and is a prominent Australian economist, author and public policy commentator, and has spent the last twenty years moving between policy-focused roles in academia, federal politics and think-tanks.He was also a Lecturer in Economics at the University of Newcastle and former Associate Professor in the Crawford School of Public Policy at ANU. He is a regular contributor to The Monthly and the author of several books,a including Econobabble, Curing Affluenza and Dead Right: How Neoliberalism Ate Itself and What Comes Next? Professor Lucas Walsh is the director of the Monash Centre for Youth Policy & Education Practice (CYPEP) within the Faculty of Education at Monash University and was a member of the National Climate Risk Assessment Expert Advisory Committee. 

Bill McKibben (pictured), a climate activist, author, and occasional newspaper columnist, has encouraged people to be less individualistic and join groups.He was among those on a panel organised by The New York Times as a part of its annual "Climate Forward" conference assembled to discuss "The future of climate activism in the Trump era"Mik Aidt has a special guest on his "The Climate Revolution" show - British sustainability strategist Joseph Gelfer calls time on weak incrementalism. He argues that the urgency of planetary collapse, combined with rising public frustration and disillusionment, will soon push even moderate citizens to demand bold, transformative change. When that moment comes, we must be ready. A peaceful political revolution for a pollution-free society is possible – but only if we dare to think big and act boldly on a planetary scale.And from The Guardian we read "Wildfires tore through central Chile last year, killing 133 people. In California, 18,000 buildings were destroyed in 2018 causing US$16bn (A$24bn, £12bn) in damage. Portugal, Greece, Algeria and Australia have all felt the grief and the economic pain in recent years.The story is: "Wildfires are getting deadlier and costing more. Experts warn they’re becoming unstoppable".

Chris Bowen (pictured) is Australia's Climate Change and Energy Minister, who says it is the toughest job he has ever had.Mr Bowen, also the Federal Member for McMahon, was a guest on a recent webinar organised by Australia's Climate Council.He was interviewed by the CEO of the Climate Council, Amanda McKenzie.And from The Melbourne Age we have the story: "COP out? Prospect of climate summit spanning Australia and Turkey raises carbon emissions question".

Rebecca Huntley (pictured), Australia's pre-eminent social researcher, watched Sydney's 2019 School Strike for Climate students marching in the city's streets and, mesmerised by what these young people were doing, she wrote a book - "How to Talk about Climate Change in a Way That Makes a Difference".But the drive those students ignited didn't end there, for working with her company, "86 Degrees East", and with the support of "Boundless Earth," she created "The Clean Energy Solutions Index".The Clean Energy Solutions Index is a unique research tool that measures deep support for 11 clean energy technologies across  Australia.During the interview, Rebecca mentioned "Climate Compass".

Australia's Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese (pictured), was among the guests interviewed during the "Climate Forward Conference" organised by The New York Times.Also among those interviewed was Andrew "Twiggy" Forrest, the boss of Fortescue.The New York Times hosted the Climate Forward Conference on Sept. 24, bringing together political leaders, activists, policymakers and business executives.Andrew Forrest, the executive chairman of Fortescue and one of the richest people on the planet, has a bold, perhaps unlikely vision to shift his gigantic mining company to net zero emissions by 2030. Mr Forrest pushed back against Mr Trump’s claims that climate change is a “con job” and challenged Mr Trump to “come and see what’s happening to my land.”Prime Minister Albanese discussed Australia's challenge in reducing emissions. Australia remains reliant on fossil fuels, including coal, which generates nearly half of its electricity. But Albanese has been outspoken in calling for Australia to be a global leader in lowering emissions and embracing renewables.

David Spratt (pictured) was the keynote speaker at the webinar "Cooling or Collapse", sharing the microphone with activist and author Jane Morton.David is the lead researcher with The National Centre for Climate Restoration (Breakthrough). This independent think tank develops critical thought leadership to influence the climate debate and policy making.  Also, in this episode, you will hear how a councillor from the City of Greater Shepparton wants officers to report on progress made on a 2020 decision to set a target of zero carbon emissions by 2030.Cr Rod Schubert gained unanimous support in calling for the report to be tabled by November.

Professor David Karoly (pictured) was among those critical of Australia's position on carbon emissions: "Climate scientists target Albanese as Turkey holds out on COP talks";"Call for more urgent climate action";"Drought resilience project focuses on orchards";"Water impacted in climate report";"On a progressive journey to their carbon-neutral future";"'Russian blood oil': Australia faces calls to ban oil products refined from Russian crude";"Exxon Urges Europe to Repeal Rules to Make Companies Track Climate Pollution".

Great Teapot in the Sky believers are mostly climate change deniers.The SBS show "Black Gold" illustrates how fossil fuel companies were aware decades ago of how, when, and why our climate was going to deteriorate."Europe splits on climate in ‘major embarrassment’ before UN summit""60 Best Climate Change Podcasts";"Albanese takes his usual each-way bet on climate change";"All Gassed Up, Part 1: The Carbon Coast";"Urban sprawl worsens as government struggles to meet density targets";"What will Australia's 2035 climate goal mean for the grid?";"Here’s the good news: we’ve improved the environment before, and we can do it again".

Australian mining billionaire Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest sharply criticised US President Donald Trump’s “gobsmackingly illogical” energy policies and accused him of kowtowing to oil and gas donors as he arrived in New York for a major United Nations summit - "‘Gobsmackingly illogical’: Twiggy lashes Trump on climate as Aussies hit New York";"Charlie Kirk and America’s political collapse";"Climate Minister Chris Bowen stops short of setting targets for renewables, EVs";"Matt Kean on Australia’s future in a climate crisis – Australian Politics podcast";"Coalition denial makes Labor seem reasonable on climate – but neither is ambitious enough".