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The Current Climate

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Event Status

Few contemporary issues present us with so much information, speculation and polarity of opinion as climate change. While many in the scientific community argue that the planet is headed for environmental disaster, equally determined sceptics dismiss such concerns. Elected officials and the media have taken sides and fiercely defend their often contradictory positions.

As part of the Weather Stations initiative, the Wheeler Centre presents an event that provides, you the audience, a chance to ask experts in the field what’s really going on. All five of the Weather Stations writers in residence from around the globe, including our own Tony Birch, will be amongst a participatory audience. The writers will reflect on their residencies and grill a panel of climate specialists.

Guests on the panel include Amanda McKenzie, CEO of the Climate Council, the independent body that was crowdfunded after the Climate Commission’s government funding was withdrawn; Environment Defenders Office CEO Brendan Sydes; and David Karoly, a Professor of Atmospheric Science at the University of Melbourne.

This is your chance to ask the real experts, so come armed with questions – and stay on to chat with Weather Stations writers and panellists in the aftermath. Nibbles provided, drinks available for purchase.

The final half hour of the published event time is set aside for informal conversation and drinks.

Featuring

Amanda McKenzie

Amanda McKenzie is the Founder and CEO of the Climate Council, a non-for-profit organisation, launched when legitimate climate-science institutions were endangered due to the dismantlement of the Climate Commission. Amanda hopes to share her experience in being an influential environmental figure, w... Read more

Brendan Sydes

Brendan Sydes has been a lawyer for 18 years after graduating from the University of Melbourne in 1995 with degrees in Law and Science. Brendan is CEO of Environmental Justice Australia, a non-profit legal practice dedicated to environmental protection. He led its predecessor, the Environment Defend... Read more

Robert Purves

Robert Purves is a businessman and an environmentalist. He is currently president of WWF Australia and is a former board member of WWF International. Robert is also a founding member of The Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists, a director of Earth Hour Global, a director of Climate Council of Aus... Read more

David Karoly

David Karoly is a Professor of Atmospheric Science at the University of Melbourne’s School of Earth Sciences. David completed his BSc (Hons) degree in Applied Mathematics in 1976 from Monash University, and was awarded his PhD in Meteorology from the University of Reading in England in 1980. From ... Read more

Location

The Wheeler Centre

176 Little Lonsdale Street Melbourne Victoria 3000

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The Wheeler Centre acknowledges the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation as the Traditional Owners of the land on which the Centre stands. We acknowledge and pay our respects to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their Elders, past and present, as the custodians of the world’s oldest continuous living culture.