Topical Issues: Climate Change and Philanthropy

Climate change is a topical issue in Australian society at present, not least of all in the not-for-profit sector. Philanthropy Australia has created this page to serve as a central location for Members looking for news, information and events relevant to this issue.

This page was last updated 23 October, 2007 - No longer being updated. Please see the Climate Change page on the PhilanthropyWiki.

Papers & Reports
23/10/07	Green philanthropy - Funding charitable solutions to environment problems, a guide for donors and funders Green philanthropy equips donors with the information they need to make a difference. It is relevant both to experienced philanthropists in this area and those who have not considered supporting environment charities before.	Find out more & download the report.
07/09/07	Carbon trading schemes may encourage the cutting of trees A recent study released in the journal Public Library of Science Biology attacks head-on the assumption that carbon offset markets are beneficial for the environment, claiming that some schemes actually result in increased deforestation. The controversial claim is supported in the study, titled “No Forest Left Behind”, and provides an interesting perspective on the potentially adverse effects of carbon trading. The researchers assert that under the Kyoto Protocol there is no profit motive for the 10 countries and one French territory that hold 20 percent of the Earth’s intact tropical forest to preserve it. The Kyoto treaty has focused on assigning carbon credits for countries and companies that plant new trees where forests have been destroyed due to development, logging or farming, the authors noted. There is no credit for countries that maintain already-abundant forestland, the study said. The study recommended assigning carbon credits for preserving already-intact forests.	Read online
24/07/07	Equity in response to Climate Change “There is now growing awareness that significant changes in climate are occurring due to increasing human-generated greenhouse gas emissions. A concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere leads to rising temperatures and more extreme, unstable weather behaviour. In highlighting such physical impacts, however, conversations on climate change to date have overlooked the social impacts – impacts which need to be given equal weight to environmental and economic considerations if there is to be an adequate and effective response to climate change. “On 26 March this year, two welfare and two environmental NGOs: the Brotherhood of St Laurence, National Welfare Rights Network, the Australian Conservation Foundation and The Climate Institute, held a conference of great significance. The issue, ‘Equity in Response to Climate Change’, was placed firmly on the national agenda.” Key papers given at the conference are drawn together in this paper.	Download PDF
19/03/07	Top ten ways to motivate employees on climate change The Climate Group has produced a briefing note outlining the top ten steps organisations can take to motivate employees on climate change. The tips are based on conversations with member companies taking a leadership position on engaging employees, such as Sky, British Telecom and Swiss Re.	Read online
14/02/07	Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Report: Implications for Australia On February 2nd,2007 the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) will release a summary report on the science of climate change.This report will be the most authoritative assessment of climate change undertaken by world's scientists in the last five years.	IPCC Fact Sheet
14/02/07	Environmental Review of 2006 Source: World Resources Institute How did the environment fare in 2006? 10 underreported stories.	Read all stories
10/01/07	Are Carbon Offsets More Than Hot Air? A new report that rates providers of retail carbon offsets is out today, and even the anticipation of its publication has caused a flurry of anxiety among some of the 30 companies it reviewed. Seems that "carbon neutral" isn't just the Word of the Year for 2006 . It's also shaping up to be the Debate of the Year for 2007.	Download report & read discussion
06/12/06	A Closer Look at Business Education: Climate Change This report has been produced by Beyond Grey Pinstripes, a biennial survey and ranking of business schools (in the USA). "Our mission is to spotlight innovative full-time MBA programs that are integrating issues of social and environmental stewardship into curricula and research."	Read the full report here
16/11/06	Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change This report was undertaken for the UK Government by Sir Nicholas Stern, Head of the Government Economics Service and Adviser to the [UK] Government on the economics of climate change and development. Its release has resulted in much controversy and media discussion internationally.	Read the full report
16/10/06	Climate change and energy briefing To build upon the momentum created by Al Gore's, An Inconvenient Truth , the Poola Foundation and Philanthropy Australia co-hosted a briefing on climate change and energy for funders to explain how climate change is affecting Australia and what they and their foundations could do about it . It was held at the Green Building in Carlton. The keynote speaker was Prof. Ian Lowe AO and he positioned climate change as "a technical, economic and moral problem" that requires leadership now. Following the briefing Amanda Martin, Executive Officer of the Poola Foundation, prepared an information sheet on climate change which included solutions, what needed to happen and what can be done by individuals and funders.	Ian Lowe's Presentation Amanda Martin's Information Sheet
26/04/2006	Where are we heading? The social impacts of climate change Following the Philanthropy Australia AGM, one of the foremost authorities on the environment, conservation and climate change, Professor Ian Lowe AO, President of the Australian Conservation Foundation, delivered an address, “Where are we heading? The social impacts of climate change”. Prof. Lowe is one of the most respected and understandable voices on matters of climate change. He has a unique ability to make tangible those issues that initially seem too big and ethereal for many of us. In his address, Prof. Lowe explained how climate change is not an issue that is too big, nor is it an issue only for those concerned about the environment. It is an issue whose first and greatest impacts are likely to be felt by the underprivileged and the underserved.	Professor Lowe's PowerPoint Presentation Other relevant papers and publications from the ACF
	With funding from The Myer Foundation the Climate Action Network Australia and Friends of the Earth Australia have developed a web-based summary of the expected effect of climate change on the world's social systems: how we source food, harvest water, sustain employment, and build our houses and cities. The website is a compilation of major national and international research on a range of topics including cost of living, insurance, tourism, agriculture, health, housing, planning in Australia and overseas.	Go to the Website

Media

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Climate change puts spotlight on Garrett, Turnbull (7.30 Report, ABC TV, 07/02)
A debate between Malcolm Turnbull (Federal Minister for the Environment and Water Resources) and Peter Garrett (Shadow Minister for Climate Change, Environment & Heritage, Arts) on climate change.
You can read the transcript here.

Govt, Opposition debate climate change (7.30 Report, ABC TV, 06/02)
The 7.30 Report ran a segment on February 6th on climate change, featuring debate between the Government and the Opposition.
You can read the transcript here.

Climate change: the year of living responsibly (Age, Opinion 08/01)
"In 2007, one thing is clear: environmental control is no longer a peripheral issue but something that concerns us all."
Read article online.

Indicator to help the greening of Victorians (Age, 08/01)
"VICTORIANS can now regularly track their ongoing contributions to climate change, with the launch of a world-first weekly indicator showing the state's key sources of greenhouse gas emissions. "
Read article online.

Climate change council to be set up (Advertiser, 05/12)
”The effects of climate change will have to be taken into account before any major projects are approved under proposals expected to be considered by Cabinet early next year… A Premier's climate change council will be established to work with industry and Government to develop strategies to combat climate change.”
Read article online.

Global warming and economics (ABC Radio National, 11/11/06)
"David Smith considers the delay in politicians and business types in accepting climate change and concludes we've forgotten our connection to the natural world."
Read transcript or download audio.

Changing views to global warming: (ABC Radio National, 11/11/06)
" Shane McCleod reports on a speech by News Corporation chief Rupert Murdoch where he acknowledges global temperatures are rising."
Read transcript or download audio.

Not the worst case but the ‘just in case' (Age, Business, Opinion p.12, 08/11/06)
" … the 700-page Stern document, commissioned by the British Government and prepared by a former World Bank chief economist, has been hailed as a turning point. Something that takes environmental awareness, once dumped in the corner under the category of corporate social responsibility, and builds a business and economics case on it."
Read article online.

Climate change forum planned (Courier-Mail, 28/10/06)
"Brisbane will host a major climate change conference as Queensland battles its worst drought on record."
Read article online.