Climate experts discuss how to transition to low-carbon living

Swinburne experts will meet with leaders in climate science in a bid to influence public policy at a national forum in Melbourne this week.

The ‘Engaging Citizens in Transitions to Low-Carbon Living’ forum to be held on 24 November will explore ways to encourage citizens to embrace low-carbon living, with the insights developed into a discussion paper for Australian policymakers. 

“We have the technology and expertise available to achieve significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from the built environment,” says Swinburne’s Professor Peter Graham, Node Leader Smart-Low Carbon Cities at the Cooperative Research Centre for Low Carbon Living (CRC-LCL).

“However, issues such as perceived lack of demand for low carbon solutions, lack of public and business awareness of potential benefits, and a disorganised evidence-base are impeding the implementation of low-carbon solutions.”

Discussing the future

The forum will present the latest research and tools from the CRC-LCL, partners and collaborators that address these issues, says Professor Graham.

“It will provide an interactive discussion about new opportunities for businesses, communities and individuals to be engaged and empowered to transition to low-carbon behaviours and practices.”

Panel discussions include:

• ‘Can we Influence Behaviour and Social Practice to Live More Sustainably in Cities?’
• ‘How Do we Learn and Share Knowledge on Low-Carbon Urban Living in Ways that Support and Influence Big Decisions and Innovation?’
• ‘How can we Harness the Influence of Traditional and Social Media, and the ‘Internet of the Things’ to Facilitate Sustainable Urban Transitions?’
• ‘How do we Better Target Government Policies to Influence Citizens and what Behaviour Research could Help Mitigate the Climate Impacts of Cities?’

Australian leaders

There will be a number of leading researchers in attendance including Leonie Walsh, former Victorian Chief Scientist; Hon. Robert Hill AC, Chairman of CRC for Low Carbon Living; Scientia Professor Deo Prasad AO, CRC CEO; Professor Jane Farmer, Director Swinburne Institute for Social Innovation; and Professor Peter Newton, Swinburne Centre for Urban Transitions.

For full details of the forum, see: ‘Engaging Citizens in Transitions to Low-Carbon Living’

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