Queensland’s Low Carbon Leaders
Queensland is holding a Climate Summit this coming week, in conjunction with the Climate Group, featuring a range of top speakers and bringing Government and business together to address issues and opportunities. Minister of Climate Change and Sustainability Kate Jones leads a session “Positioning Queensland Businesses as Low Carbon Leaders”.
On Wednesday 4 November, Queensland holds its first Climate Summit:
A decade ago it was the digital economy that fundamentally changed the way we operate and do business across borders. Those forecasts of the growth and impact of a virtual economy have become a reality.
As we approach the end of the first decade in the twenty-first century, the low carbon economy is emerging, partly out of necessity and partly as a result of greater awareness on climate change, and is beginning to have a noticeable economic impact.
What was previously associated with problems of high-cost and inefficiency is rapidly becoming a high-growth industry where profits and returns are increasingly attractive.
Prospering in the new low carbon economy is essentially making business-sense of climate change. Fundamentally it is transitioning from a cost-based efficiency approach into realising new growth opportunities in alternative investment, technology and production.
With the UN Climate Conference in Copenhagen only a month away, the conference will provide a timely focus on the imminent changes that may arise from a new Global Deal on greenhouse emissions reductions, what it will mean for Queensland and how the State can take advantage of business opportunities and continue to play a leadership role.
Speakers include:
Hon Anna Bligh MP, Premier of Queensland
Hon Kate Jones MP, Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability
Hon Andrew Fraser MP, Treasurer and Minister for Employment and Economic Development
Hon Stirling Hinchliffe MP, Minister for Infrastructure and Planning
Hon Tim Mulherin MP, Treasurer and Minister for Primary Industries, Fisheries and Rural and Regional Queensland
Prof Tim Flannery, Macquarie University
Steve Howard, CEO, The Climate Group
David Beards, Company Secretary, Bunnings
Robert Hill, Chair, Carbon Trust
Susan Johnston, Special Advisor on Climate Change, Anglo Coal Australia
Peter Hanley, Division Director, Utilities & Climate Change, Macquarie Capital Advisers
Nathan Fabian, CEO, Investor Group on Climate Change
Doug McTaggart, CEO, Queensland Investment Corp
Michael Gill, Director of Internet Services Group, CISCO
Ben Keneally, Head of External Affairs, Better Place Australia
Rick Humphries, Director, Carbon Greening Australia

ABOUT THE ORGANISERS
THE °CLIMATE GROUP is the world’s leading international NGO focused exclusively on the solutions to climate change. The °Climate Group partners with the most influential leaders from businesses and governments, helping them to take a leadership position on climate change, facilitating stronger collaboration on market mechanisms and policy development, and communicating successes with a particular focus on the links between reduced greenhouse gas emissions and improved financial and economic performance.
Using the work of these leaders as a catalyst, The °Climate Group accelerates international action on climate change with a strong focus on practical
solutions. We promote the development and sharing of expertise on how business and government can lead the way towards a Low Carbon Economy while boosting profitability and competitiveness.
The °Climate Group is also independent and politically neutral – a vital component of our ability to be authoritative and influential. Although we have very close working relationships with and value the support of government and business, we place great importance on remaining free of influence from any sector. It is for these reasons that corporate and government leaders seek us out to convene events, advise on strategy, provide information on solutions, and help forge new partnerships at the highest levels.
www.theclimategroup.org
The Queensland Government has a strong track record of leadership on climate change, and has committed to doing its part in meeting the national target of a 60 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions below 2000 levels by 2050. Queensland launched its first climate change strategy, ClimateSmart 2050, in July 2007 which provided $1.4 billion in investments.
In August 2009, the Queensland Government launched its updated climate change strategy, ClimateQ: Toward a greener Queensland. The ClimateQ strategy consolidates and updates the approaches taken in ClimateSmart 2050 and sets out the next crucial steps in Queensland’s response to climate change.
Importantly, ClimateQ complements the Commonwealth’s CPRS and the national Renewable Energy Target by starting to prepare key economic sectors for the future and encourage emissions reductions at least cost to the economy. Through ClimateSmart 2050 and ClimateQ strategies, Queensland has an extensive suite of initiatives – both new and ongoing – to help mange Queensland’s transition to a lower carbon future.
www.climatechange.qld.gov.au/
Also on the same day, Wednesday 4 November there’s an important public forum in Brisbane, initiated by Climate Connectors:
There has been plenty of scaremongering from big polluters about action on climate change and jobs, but the truth is that Australia can create hundreds of thousands of new clean energy jobs if we move forward.

Please join us in Brisbane next Wednesday 4 November for an important public forum on climate change and jobs. Speakers will include:
• Sharan Burrow (President, ACTU)
• Don Henry (Executive Director, Australian Conservation Foundation)
• Clare Martin (CEO, Australian Council of Social Services)
• John Connor (CEO, The Climate Institute)

Wednesday 4 November
9:30am (morning tea provided) Presentation to begin at 10:00am
2nd floor, TLC Building
16 Peel St, South Brisbane

Source: www.climateconnectors.org