Conference Day One
Tuesday 27 October 2015
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08:15 Registration and welcome coffee
08:50 Opening remarks from the Chair
Keith Orchison, Director, Coolibah Pty Ltd
The Road to Paris
09:00 Federal Policy Keynote: Examining policy directions and the factors influencing national strategy on climate change
- What are the implications for the national economy?
- Engaging business and industry stakeholders to inform policy and enable opportunities through emissions reduction and abatement
- Assessing the global contexts that have influenced policy in the lead up to COP21 in Paris
Rob Sturgiss, A/g First Assistant Secretary, Climate Change and Renewable Energy Division, Department of the Environment
09:30 Industry Keynote: Framing an effective business strategy and response for emissions reduction
- Finding common ground between science, policy, economics and industry capacity for action
- The core challenges for the business role in limiting emissions to the 2° levels
- How can business find a balance between the two goals of reducing emissions and business profitability?
- Preparing for the realities for stranded assets, innovation, divestment and economically driven decarbonisation
Clare Luehman, General Manager Global Sustainability and Carbon, Incitec Pivot
10:00 Panel Discussion: New directions in business engagement in climate change policy and action
- Looking beyond pleas of moral imperatives to the value proposition for engaging in the climate change discussion
- Examining the business case for transition to low emissions technology and the move away from fossil fuels - implicit challenges in this proposition for Australian industry
- Building business thinking and action around the reality of the beginning of the end of the high carbon era and the birth of a new kind of economy
- The Australian policy discussion – bridging the gap between government, industry and scientific thinking
Panel moderator:
Keith Orchison, Director, Coolibah Pty Ltd
Panellists:
Clare Luehman, General Manager Sustainability and Carbon, Incitec Pivot
Miles Prosser, Chief Executive Officer, Aluminium Council of Australia
John Connor, Chief Executive Officer, The Climate Institute
10:40 Morning tea
Examining the economic imperatives of climate change policy
11:10 Examining the implications of the domestic and international climate policy landscape on emission intensive trade exposed sectors (EITES)
- Examining the vulnerability of trade to climate change policy
- Implications of the commitments and policies of other nations on prices and volumes for exports of emissions-intensive resources and products
- Effect of the design of Australia's domestic emissions policies on exporters and import competitors
Tennant Reed, Principal National Adviser, Australian Industry Group
11:40 Panel Discussion: Examining the key factors for the adaptation and transition of the energy sector to a low carbon future
- Challenges for planning, development and integration of renewables – implications for cost, supply and demand and deployment
- Assessing the impact of the RET and other regulatory and funding mechanisms on the development of renewables
- Understanding the barriers limiting the uptake of renewables and the drivers for change
Panel Moderator:
Keith Orchison, Director, Coolibah Pty Ltd
Panellists:
Colin Wain, Policy Development Manager, Hydro Tasmania
Cameron Reid, Carbon and Renewable Policy Manager, AGL
Kieran Donoghue, General Manager Policy, Energy Supply Association of Australia
Monique Miller, Director - Corporate and Project Finance, Clean Energy Finance Corporation
12:30 Networking lunch
The market mechanisms for carbon abatement in Australia
13:30 Analysing the recommendations of the Climate Change Authority Review on Australia’s Future Emissions Targets
- Examining the underpinning evidence of climate science for the recommended emissions reduction targets and the comparability of recommended targets to other developed nations – US, Japan, EU and China
- Reviewing Australia’s international commitments – Kyoto and the UNFCC – balancing reasoned targets for emissions reduction with a policy framework and the capacity for real outcomes
- Assessing the major social, economic and environmental benefits to Australia of effective action to reduce global emissions
- Stakeholder engagement and perspectives informing the recommendations
Shayleen Thompson, Acting Chief Executive Officer, Climate Change Authority
14:00 Understanding the market mechanisms for carbon abatement in Australia
- Reviewing the design and characteristics of the ERF as an approach to carbon abatement
- Examining the baseline and credit system
- How these identify, measure and incentivise abatement
Chloe Munro, Chief Executive Officer, Clean Energy Regulator
14:30 Considering the arguments for a multi-pronged approach to carbon abatement
- Looking at what defines an informed and stable regulatory approach for climate change
- Facilitating abatement while strengthening the transition to a low carbon economy
- An overview of the global carbon markets and the implications for Australia
Cameron Reid, Carbon and Renewable Policy Manager, AGL
The evolution of the politics of climate change and its impact on domestic and global policy implementation
15:00 The papal encyclical – the clear and definitive ethical imperative to act on climate change
- Analysing the impact of a papal encyclical on thinking around climate change – social, community and economic impact
- Considering some of the implications of papal action on investment and divestment in the western world
- Connecting religion, faith and ecology
Neil Ormerod, Professor of Theology, Australian Catholic University
15:30 Afternoon tea
Insights into the international energy transition
16:00 Exploring the pathway to the European Union’s energy transition
- The trajectory of expansion of supply and demand for renewables and the key defining factors that enabled the European energy transition to a 1/3 renewable energy point
- Examining the challenges for the electricity system of variability of generation sources across the EU
- Engaging with political and industrial stakeholders to achieve long term planning goals amidst diverse perspectives and capacity
- Looking into the EU vision for the energy future
Susanne Nies, Manager Corporate Affairs, European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (Via Videolink)
16:30 NFP perspective: Building and diversifying engagement with business and industry on climate action
- Removing the traditional lines separating NFPs and business on climate action
- Reviewing emerging collaborations between NFPs like the WWF and business and industry groups that combine science with industry expertise and experience to develop and implement joint strategies for climate action
- Building strategic partnership with key commodities sectors to transition their supply chains to more sustainable practice, the GFTN and the work with regional farming and Indigenous Communities
Monica Richter, Business and Industry Engagement Manager, Climate Change Program
17:00 Closing remarks from Chair
17:10 Close of conference Day One and networking drinks