Conference program

The 2009 Conference will run for two and a half days and for the first time will feature an exhibition. Day one workshops will provide an introduction to carbon markets, science updates and opportunities for cleantech companies.

Day one’s afternoon workshops will provide an introduction to carbon markets, science updates and opportunities for cleantech companies. The offical conference opening will be followed by a moderated Canadian-Australian climate change dialogue looking at how two resource rich nations move to a low emissions economy.

Day two of the conference will focus on key policy directions locally and globally in the lead up to Copenhagen. Business will respond to domestic policy measures and will debate the effect of the global economic crisis on securing financing for the move to the low carbon economy.

The final day will focus on practical advice for business in preparing for emerging carbon legislation and the current state of play regarding voluntary action. The conference will close with the Leaders’ Forum looking forward to Copenhagen.

Conference program in pdf format

Program Outline

Carbon Markets 101

• International Carbon Markets: will provide delegates with a detailed introduction to the compliance and voluntary markets around the world; terminologies & acronyms used.  
• Local Carbon Markets will outline the existing and emerging legislation in Australia and New Zealand that will impact a business' energy use, choice of energy source and carbon emissions.

Science & Adaptation Updates

• Science update: new research results: are global warming impacts exceeding predictions plus the impact of a changing climate on renewable energy in New Zealand.
• Adaptation practicalities: Best practice examples of preparing your business and community for pending physical and climatic impacts resulting from global warming.

The conference will be officially opened by the host and foundation sponsor, the Victorian Government. The opening will be followed by a moderated debate: the 2009 Canada -Australia Federation Dialogue on Climate Change. The Australian presenter; Tony Wood, Director Clean Energy Program, Clinton Climate Initiative will join Canada's John Drexhage; Director Climate Change and Energy programs at the International Institute for Sustainable Development to debate how two resource rich nations can mov to a low carbon economy. The discussion will be moderated by the Rt Hon Simon Upton, Special Advisor, PricewaterhouseCoopers.



Day 2 – Tuesday August 25, 2009
Tacking Climate Change in the Global Recession

Day two will feature a full day of plenary sessions with domestic policy updates from Australia and New Zealand and international policy commentary on the key players, the United States, China, India and Brazil. A moderated discussion will follow to explore how policy will impact trade exposed industry, trans-tasman business interests and the broader economies of Australia and New Zealand.

The afternoon session will focus on a local and global carbon markets update – market activity, price fluctuations, to be followed by a lively debate on how to finance the move to a low carbon economy. What are the obstacles to debt, equity, institutional and public sector financiers and how to overcome them.



Day 3 – Wednesday August 26
Prospering in the New Carbon Economy

Day three will offer a choice of three concurrent streams: 

• Practical advice: preparing for carbon trading, reporting carbon emissions, the voluntary carbon minimisation and carbon neutrality market
  
• Business Opportunities: cleantech industry showcase, gaining finance for all stages of development and export opportunites for key regional markets.
  
• Challenging issues: land management, carbon capture and storage and incentivising action

The conference will close with the popular Leader’s Forum. The topic will be “The Call to Copenhagen” and a diverse panel covering government, business, environment and youth will outline their objectives for the international negotiations.The Copenhagen host, Danish Energy and Climate Minister, Connie Hedegaard, will introduce the Forum with a summary via videolink of the outlook for the December meeting.