Pre-Conference Workshop
Translating climate science into policy: responses and strategies
Tuesday 12 May 2020, 9am – 5pm
Overview
In order to effectively adapt to the impact of climate change, policymakers need to be able to make informed decisions guided by timely and accurate data. This workshop will explore how climate change is affecting extreme weather patterns, developing appropriate policy responses to climate change and what lessons can be learnt from climate change adaptation strategies currently being executed at the state and local government levels.
Workshop Facilitator
Nick Wood is the Director of the consultancy Climate Policy Research and a strong advocate of the view that Australian businesses need to build the capacity to identify, measure and manage the financial risks associated with climate change. Climate Policy Research works with clients from government, academia, IT and banking who understand that they can use the detailed data emerging from the current state of the art climate models to improve their risk management.
Nick’s background is one of high-level academic research combined with highly successful business development in the area of environmental and climate policy. After completing a Doctorate in Nuclear Reactor Technology and Post-Doctoral Research in Atmospheric Chemistry at the University of Leeds, Nick joined a major UK utility as the first Manager and business developer of its new air pollution compliance consultancy.
Over 4 years Nick successfully grew the business unit from a start up to become one of the market leaders in the provision of technical services for environmental compliance. Nick joined the Sydney based Sustainability team of a big four global accountancy firm in 2008 and initially worked on assisting Australian business prepare for the (eventual) introduction of the carbon price mechanism in 2012. In September 2014 Nick founded Climate Policy Research.
Program
9.00-10.30 Session 1: The Science of Climate Change
- Climate modelling and average-climate projections
- Projected changes in extreme weather and climate events
10.30-11.00 Morning Tea
11.00-12.30 Session 2: From Science to Policy: Developing Responses to Climate Change
- Investing in sophisticated advance warning systems to better track extreme weather events and improve preparedness and recovery efforts
- Enhancing the resilience of systems and local communities to the effects of climate change
12.30-1.30 Networking Lunch
1.30-3.00 Session 3: Best-in-class approaches to climate change adaptation
- Melbourne City Council Climate Adaptation Strategy
- The South Australian Government’s Climate Change Adaptation Plan
3.00-3.30 Afternoon Tea
3.30-5.00 Session 4: Scenario Planning for Climate Adaptation
Workshop delegates will undertake a scenario planning session in order to consider how their organisation could be impacted by the various potential developments with respect to climate change.
5.00 Workshop Ends
