Common Ground on Climate

What is participatory democracy? How can we support robust, genuine debate and collaboration amongst different parts of the community?  As a researcher and community organiser, Amanda has spent her life finding ways to involve a huge range of people in shaping institutions and decision-making. Amanda shares some hard earned lessons and talks us through 5 practical steps to genuinely get people involved.  

What is it like to work within the oil and gas industry? What kind of pressure are people and organisations facing, internally and externally? Can change be driven from within? Georgie McClanachan worked for 6 years as a commercial analyst and an economist in a large oil and gas company—one of Australia's largest carbon dioxide emitters. In that time, Georgie witnessed pressure being applied both from protestors, and activists investors. Georgie shares her experience of the efforts to drive change from within, from the challenges of working in large organisations to being accused of being a sell-out by people outside the organisation.

What does a "zero-emissions" economy mean? What might it feel like? Can Australians fare well in the global transition to zero emissions? As CEO of Beyond Zero Emissions, Heidi has led transformative research on transitioning into a zero emissions economy, one in which we are not generating greenhouse gas emissions. We discuss what such a transition entails for Australia, from the economic investments required to the jobs that will be created and even what factories might look like in the future.

How can we design our economy so that it supports a better way of life for all? With nearly 40 years experience in environmental, energy and land use policy work in Australia and the US, which included advising the United Nations and the Clinton Administration, Frank Muller is a go-to expert on this topic. Learn how a carbon border adjustment affects Australian exports, the role that our government plays in advancing technological innovation and the need to revisit carbon pricing in Australia.    

Given Australia's reliance on coal, can a shift in energy mix be a long term opportunity? How can Australia keep up with the rest of the world? Hear from Alex Wonhas, an Australian energy market expert. Alex has spent a lot of time charting the future of Australia's energy system, including in his role as  Executive General Manager of system design for Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO). In this podcast, Alex flips the script by explaining how planning can help Australia, not only keep up with the rest of the world, but start to set the standard.

How can Australia be prepared for what lies ahead? What would it mean for Australia to genuinely have sustained and sustainable economic growth? Sam Mackay, former director and current Advisory Board member of Griffith University's Climate Ready Initiative talks about the way communities and industry are coming together to map a different Australian future. 

Why don't Australian homes seem to fit with our climate? And does it have to be so hard to fix them? Anna Crabb, CEO of the Australian Energy Foundation, shares her horror at learning Australia's got some of the worst housing stock in the developed world, and only one in 10 houses built last year achieved a good energy efficiency rating. Anna shares some top tips for making your home more comfortable, cutting your bills and helping the environment to boot.

What's a COP? Who is meeting and what are they discussing? What does it mean for Australia? If you ever felt like you missed the memo on some of these international climate discussions, you're not alone. There's acronyms and buzzwords aplenty.  With her vast experience in energy and climate policy and current role at the Asian Development bank, Kate Hughes answers our questions about the basics. We get behind the jargon to understand what are some of the issues facing different countries are grappling with, and the economic and environmental opportunities at stake in these international discussions.  

Does Australia have what it takes to be at the at the leading edge of renewable energy in the world? Absolutely! But where are we today and what does the journey look like? Professor Stuart White, Director of the Institute for Sustainable Futures at the University of Technology Sydney gives us a fascinating glimpse of a systems approach to sustainability, including the need for complex systems to be connected and how a more inclusive approach to democracy could help bring in better policies.  

Can you actually vacuum emission out of the air? What role does the law play when it comes to matters of the environment and the economy? Elisa de Wit, climate law specialist and board member, gives us some insights into what Australia's doing and not doing to reduce emissions. Elisa discusses some of the legal challenges for companies, as well the potential upside for Australian companies from a lower emissions world.

Can Australia be a shining example of how to boom and prosper in a low carbon future? We talk to Tom Quinn, head of policy and research about Beyond Zero Emissions' million jobs plan — one that creates economic growth and clean jobs for a million Australians and counting. It's not only possible, but the upsides are happening now.

What do a new type of condoms, boomerangs and fire management have in common? Kylie Walker, CEO of the Australian Academy of Technology & Engineering talks about our history of innovation; about scientists as reluctant communicators, and offers some insights into why leaders from Australia's engineering and technology sectors are thinking and talking about climate change now more than ever.

Do most Australians actually understand what scientists have learned about our climate? If not, why not?    Will tackles the highs and lows of science communication and the lasting impacts on Australia's understanding of climate change. We discuss what's worked well, what hasn't and talk about how  and his colleagues at the Centre for Public Awareness of Science are working to improve the way scientists connect with Australians.

What do miners in Alabama, UK retirees and bushfire victims have in common? More than you'd think. George Marshall, founder of Climate Outreach and author of, "Don't Even Think About it: Why Our Brains are Wired to Ignore Climate Change",  explains how to discuss changes to the climate in ways that build communities, rather than divide. One big tip? The time to talk is before the next big catastrophic weather event, not after.

How did chatting about the weather become so awkward?  Arek Sinanian's passion for efficiency led him to decades of work on climate change with companies around the world —including some big producers of fossil fuels. But after a few feisty BBQ conversations, he set out to understand why climate change is so polarizing in Australia—and his book, “A Climate For Denial”, was the result. In this podcast, we explore what Arek learned about how way we think, hear and make sense of climate change science.

Is there a better way to be talking about climate change? And what's love got to do with it? Rebecca Huntley— renowned author, sociologist, and broadcaster talks to us about Australians, climate change and flip flops. The author of “How to Talk About Climate Change in a Way That Makes a Difference”, Rebecca's been talking a lot to people about climate change—considering the role of emotion, and what they're worried about, how they feel and why. She will even let you know what love's got to do with it.