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 Sydney: 9th November 2006
Venue: Sofitel Wentworth
Melbourne: 15th November 2006
Venue: Melbourne Sofitel
A National Emissions Trading Scheme (NETS) has been proposed. With ambitious targets it would be the most significant piece of Australian environmental regulation in many decades. Getting it right is a national economic, environmental and social imperative.
Climate Crunch Event Papers
Climate Crunch presentation slides
Peter Cosier's Green Capital Paper - Will Climate Change cost us the Earth
TEC media release on the NSW State Government announcment - Renewable Energy Target a good step forward
Green Electricity Watch Website - A review of green electricity suppliers and their productsSpeakers Keynote speaker: NSW Premier, The Hon Morris Iemma - Sydney Only
Morris Iemma was sworn-in as the 40th Premier of New South Wales on August 3, 2005. He is also Minister for State Development and Minister for Citizenship, and held the Treasury portfolio from August 2005 to February 2006.
In 1999 Mr Iemma was elected to Cabinet has has held portfolios including health, sport and recreation, citizenship and public works and services.  Setting the Scene: Peter Cosier, The Wentworth Group of concerned scientists
Peter will present his latest paper on the real costs of preventing dangerous climate change. Peter is the Executive Director and Founding Member of the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists. He has previously spent 6 six years as Policy Advisor to the then Australian Environment Minister, Senator Robert Hill where his responsibilities included international greenhouse policy.
 Sydney Chairperson: Quentin Dempster, ABC Stateline presenter
Quentin Dempster is an ABC broadcaster, journalist and author with extensive experience in television (20 years) and print media (15 years). He has covered issues such as institutional corruption, fuel spills, the Moura mine disaster and the Wood Royal Commission.
On Australia Day 1992 Quentin Dempster was awarded the Order of Australia for services to the media, ‘particularly in the fields of journalism and current affairs’.
 Melbourne Chairperson: Jonathan Holmes, ABC Four Corners reporter
Jonathan has spent more than thirty years in television journalism. Born in Britain, he spent twelve years as a producer for the BBC before coming to Australia in 1982 to take over as Executive Producer of Four Corners. Since then he has been Head of ABC TV Documentaries, and Executive Producer of Foreign Correspondent and The 7.30 Report. He been a reporter for Four Corners since 2003. He recently filed a report ‘What price global warming ’  Tony Wood - General Manager Public and Government Affairs, Origin Energy
Origin Energy is involved in energy exploration, generation distribution and retail. Their portfolio includes oil, coal and renewable generation. They are a member of the Australian Roundtable on Climate Change which recommends a national, market based carbon price and a binding 2020 emissions target.
 Jeff Angel - Director, Total Environment Centre
Jeff has been campaigning on energy and climate change for many years. He believes: “We need big cuts and an economic mechanism to generate funds to assist transition to a low carbon economy. Business and environmentalists have to get this right.”
 Alex Gordon - Director Sustainability Strategies, Australian Conservation Foundation
Alex was head of the NSW Greenhouse Office as it laid the foundations for the proposed emissions trading scheme. "To help prevent dangerous climate change, any emissions trading scheme will need to set us on the path to at least 60% cuts in emissions across the economy by 2050. Without tough targets now, not only will we fail to achieve the environmental outcomes, but we'll face higher costs in future and the risk of stranded assets."
 Mark Duffy - Director-General, NSW Department of Energy, Utilites and Sustainability - Sydney Only
Recently appointed as Director-General of the Department of Energy, Utilities and Sustainability, Mark has over twenty years broad experience in NSW public policy and management including as Acting Director-General of the Ministry of Transport, Assistant Director-General at the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources and Chief of Staff to former Treasurer and Minister for Energy, the Hon. Michael Egan MLC.
 Mitch Hooke - Chief Executive Officer, Minerals Council of Australia - Sydney Only
Members of the Minerals Council include companies from the coal, aluminium and uranium sectors, and may be affected by an emissions trading scheme. Mitch has been critical of the Kyoto Protocol for “its focus on targets not solutions” but has also said that in the future there will be “ . . . a carbon price in a carbon constrained world. Those who protest this eventuality are denying gravity”. See his speech to the Pew Centre.
 Anthea Harris - Project Leader, National Emissions Trading Taskforce - Melbourne Only
Anthea leads the Secretariat that is supporting the work of the Australian States and Territories in developing a national emissions trading scheme. Previously, Anthea was a consultant at Frontier Economics, where she worked on a range of greenhouse policy issues, including assisting the NSW Government design and implement its Greenhouse Gas Abatement Scheme.
 Brad Page - Chief Executive Officer, Energy Supply Association of Australia - Melbourne Only
ESAA is the peak body of the electricity and downstream gas industry in Australia. Before joining ESAA, Brad was involved in the implementation of Australia’s National Electricity Market and other microeconomic reforms. He was appointed Chair of the CSIRO Energy and Transport Sector Advisory Council in November 2004.
The Debate – can emissions trading save us from the climate crunch?Many environment and progressive business groups now believe that putting a price on carbon is an essential policy response. In this debate we will explore exactly what should and should not be included in an emissions trading scheme. Business, green groups and experts will test their current views: Deep cuts? How deep? - Green groups specific, deep cuts of 60-90%
- Carbon industry non-specific or no targets
Role of renewable energy? - Green groups support for renewable energy as a top priority
- Coal industry support for clean coal technology as best option
Will energy efficiency be eligible for abatement credits? - Energy users want to credit efficiency
- Policy makers not convinced NETS is the best approach
A place for nuclear energy? - Green groups oppose every step of the nuclear cycle
- Minerals industry supports a safe nuclear industry
Should tree planting be part of the scheme? - Green groups to a capped proportion of the overall target
- Policy makers included with no cap
Is geosequestration (carbon capture and storage) the answer? - Green groups no
- Industry groups yes
Should liquid fuels (oil and petroleum) be included? - Green groups yes
- Policy makers not yet
Hear about how these controversial issues could impact your industry.
Why you should be thereFor Business
Hear from the NSW Premier
Find out what the implications of emissions trading are for your business
Hear the perspectives of key environment groups
For Community Groups
Understand the pros and cons of the proposed emissions trading scheme
Hear the positions of business and policy makers
Understand the implications for your climate change campaigns
For Governments
Hear business and community stakeholder perspectives on emissions trading
Understand the implications for existing energy and greenhouse policy instruments
Understand the extent to which the scheme may affect government operations
Background informationThe National Emissions Trading Taskforce
All you ever wanted to know about the state led proposal for a national emissions trading scheme.
Environment group position on emissions trading
Find out what NGOs currently think about emissions trading.
The Australian Business Roundtable on Climate Change
Leading businesses put forward the business case for early action on climate change.
Action Plan for a prosperous low carbon future
WWF Australia and AGL have a set out a range of policies to affordably reduce emissions to 30% below 1990 levels by 2030.
Australia’s inconvenient truth
A concise overview of predicted climate change impacts, compiled by the ACF.
The Carbon Disclosure Project
Investors worth $31.5 trillion ask the world’s top 500 companies what they’re doing about climate change.
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Speakers
The Debate
Why you should be there
Background information
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