1. Welcome and Introduction to the day
Acknowledge traditional owners. Logistics for the workshops (15 minutes)
2. Context – where have we come from?
> A brief visual history of the last few years of climate change
campaigning in Victoria and Australia showing the diversity of the
climate change movement and the range of issues covered. (10 minutes)
3. The Current Landscape
> what are the opportunities presented by the outcomes of the
federal election – what is different/ what is the same (10 minutes)
[Owen Pascoe, CANA]
> what have been the developments in climate science over the past
year, stressing the urgency of the need to peak our greenhouse
emissions. This section aims to present the most up-to-date info /
breaking news on the topic (10 minutes)
4. Achieving Change in a Changing Political Climate
The morning session is a series of 'Info downloads': Brief overview
[each 5 min MAX] of the key models and frameworks currently being
proposed, including:
> the climate change bill [Steve Meacher]
> beyond zero emissions approaches [Matthew Wright]
> where to now with Kyoto after the Bali meeting [Adrian Whitehead]
> carbon rationing [David Spratt]
> declaring the climate emergency [Philip Sutton]
> implications of climate change for business [Sustainable Business Practises]
> what about nuclear power? [Michaela Stubbs]
> forests & climate change [Emma Jukic]
> contraction, convergence & compensation [Cam Walker]
The aim of this section is to showcase the many frameworks without spending time or arguing pros and cons of each.
(presentations 45 minutes total)
Initial responses from the floor (20 minutes)
4. Common obstacles and challenges
What are our common obstacles and challenges that are preventing us
from solving the issues of climate change? These will be submitted
prior to the day and presented on charts. A short opportunity will be
given to add to the list but no discussion will take place. All
attendees get 5 'stars' in their registration pack – during the break
they are asked to 'vote' for their preferred goals, which will then be
shortlisted. This will then go into one of the workshops in the session
below [Glenn Todd] (10 minutes)
MORNING TEA (20 minutes)
[Earth Hour video to be shown during morning tea]
5. New coal in the Latrobe Valley – what plans for community campaigning in 2008? (brief intro from Greenpeace & workshop later in day) (10 min)
6. How will we know if we are acting at a suitable speed?
Getting it right early on means dealing with the 'elephant in the room'
– the conflict and differences that exist in the movement. Groups are
moving at different speeds, and using varying strategies and targets,
which can cause tensions and conflict. How do we address the
differences in a way that maximises our effectiveness as a movement?
[Giselle Wilkinson] (10 min)
7. Review - Exploring and show casing some current examples of climate change strategies and activities.
> Cross Sector collaborations & movements – the welfare sector and climate change (Jess Fritze, VCOSS)
> inspiring local action – egs of a local climate group (Jenneke Kylstra, Murrindindi Climate Network) and (MaCCA)
> Creating new possibilities – the renewable energy program being put forward by trade union activists [Dave Kerin]
> Adaptation funding & climate change – what obligations does
Australia have to the global community? [Charlotte Sterrott, Oxfam]
LUNCH (1 hour)
8. Open Space workshops (offered by conference participants)
Thematic workshops – these workshops aim to focus on specific
approaches or campaigns and draw out and foster new ideas and
strategies to deal with the current global warming crisis we face. (90
minutes)..
It is expected that the facilitator will set the scene through
providing a brief presentation on the issues involved, then help
facilitate the session to draw out information and ideas from the
participants.
The outcome of the workshop is up to the participants and the
organiser. It may simply be a chance to learn more on a particular
topic or issue, it may lead to new group or campaign. Where there is a
specific outcome, the group is welcome to appoint someone to report
back briefly to the final plenary. We would also ask the group to
provide some basic info on the outcomes of the workshop to the
organising group so we can include in the website and in any follow-up
carried out.
> Water & climate change. Mary Crooks
> Solutions to our obstacles and challenges workshop. Glenn Todd
Converting creative responses into an action plan. Recommended action
for different Climate Change sectors (eg, community, government and
business) that are most appropriate to tackle specific challenges.
> Animal Products contribution to Climate Change. Bruce Poon
Presentation of research, analysis and review. Discussion of strategies to communicate findings.
> Helping people change – essential skills for saving the planet. Susie Burke
Human beings, their motivations and their behavior are important causes
of environmental problems. Profound changes in human behavior are
therefore required to bring about improvements in every area of concern
where the national and global environment is threatened.
Changing human behavior, however, is much harder than people think.
This workshop will provide an overview of current psychological
research into understanding human motivations, perceptions, attitudes,
and behaviours about the environment.
> Anti coal campaign [Greenpeace]
what is planned for 2008, how you can get involved
> Forests and climate [forests for climate]
Losing our forests means losing the battle against climate change.
Native forests around the world are the greatest land-based carbon
sinks, containing three to four times more carbon than is now in the
atmosphere. Deforestation is globally the second greatest contributor
to climate change, affecting every human being. The mature, tall, wet
forests of Victoria are some of the greatest carbon sinks in the world.
One hectare of such forest can store the equivalent of 5,500 tonnes of
carbon dioxide.
Logging in Victoria and Australia is close to 10% of our total greenhouse gas emissions.
> Working in and with unions. [Ben Courtice]
This workshop will briefly look at what unions have done, can do and
are doing; and then focus on how environmentalists can work with
unions, whether as a member, or as community campaigners.
> Local government elections in November. [Angela Munro]
The many separate campaigns, such as to oppose the Port Phillip Bay
dredging, the East West Freeway and the Gippsland desalination plant
highlight the need to mobilise adequate influence within government
where citizens' views are currently seriously under-represented. The
November local government elections are a great opportunity to mount a
concerted statewide campaign to make climate change the main issue, to
look at ways climate change activists might be supported to stand for
their local council or to support those willing to stand. Come and
discuss whether this is worthwhile and if so, what needs to happen in
the next 9 months?
> Declaring the climate emergency [Yarra climate action network]
> Food Production and Agriculture – Eating Away At Climate Change
Food production and agriculture contribute over 17% of global
greenhouse gas emissions. Any solution to mitigate climate change is
going to need a serious rethink about how we farm, what we farm and
what we eat. You’ll learn how food production and agriculture are
contributing towards climate change.
9. Networking workshops (outcome orientated if possible)
We will break into groups based on our geographic locations (rural and suburban) – groups to run themselves (1 hour)
Groups that are operating in a Victorian rather than local context
might decide to meet together, as may people working in specific
sectors – eg business
10. Summary – Defining our action from here?
A facilitator will sum up key themes from the day – including What
about the movement? What structures do we need? Where to from here?
Discuss any specific proposals – presentation from the 'goals and vision' workshop, coal workshop (1 hour)
11. 'wrap up' speaker - Emily Lawrence
Convergence 2008 Close