Bold leadership needed to tackle climate crisis

In a decisive and impassioned call to action, Swinburne University of Technology Chancellor Professor John Pollaers OAM has used his opening remarks at the 2024 Chancellor’s Oration to urge Australia’s business, government and academic sectors to step up and lead the charge in addressing the global climate emergency.

Underscoring that the time for incremental adjustments has passed, Professor Pollaers said Australia needs transformative leadership that prioritises long-term, strategic alignment of economic, societal and environmental goals.

“This moment demands more than just managing the status quo,” said Professor Pollaers. “Leaders must rise to the challenge, setting aside short-term gains for a vision that secures not only Australia’s future but also our planet’s. The opportunity for clean economic growth is within our reach, but only if we are bold enough to seize it.”

The role of universities

In his speech, the Chancellor challenged Australia’s industries to recognise the pivotal role universities can play in this transition.

“Our research and education sector is a national asset, a strategic lever that, when fully harnessed, can propel Australia into a leadership position on the global stage. Becoming a renewable energy superpower is important, but our true potential lies in becoming a brainpower superpower.”

Addressing an audience of industry leaders, policymakers and academics, the Chancellor emphasised the critical nature of collective action, highlighting that no sector can afford to stand idle.

“It will take every home, every business and every industry working together towards a sustainable future. The scale of the response required is unprecedented.”

Opportunities for the nation

Professor Pollaers directly addressed the dangerous notion that Australia is too small or insignificant to influence global outcomes. “There is a false narrative out there that somehow Australia is a powerless victim of this transformation or too minor a player to make a difference. We must reject this. We have to make the choice to lead.”

Australia, with its resources and innovative capacity, is uniquely positioned to lead on the path to net zero, but only if leaders across sectors embrace their responsibility to act.

The panel was moderated by esteemed journalist Beverley O’Connor, and featured a panel of distinguished global experts, including Nicky Sparshott (Global Chief of Transformation, Unilever), Julian Critchlow (Advisory Partner, Bain & Company and former UK Director General of Energy Transformation and Clean Growth for the UK Government), Dan Cass (Co-Founder, Rewiring Australia) and Paul Gilding (Sustainability Advocate).

“The window for meaningful action is narrowing,” Professor Pollaers said. “The decisions we make today will define our future for generations to come. We must lead, or we will be left behind.”