Codes, communication and climate: how different sectors should decarbonise
There are plenty of roads to net zero.
7 September 2022/
A panel at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Canberra’s Better Futures Forum this week, "Decarbonising sectors to achieve Australia’s climate agenda together," explored the myriad of ways different parts of the country can decarbonise.
Professor Deo Prasad AO, from UNSW’s School of the Built Environment, says the building code is a useful government lever for decarbonisation.
“Normally it’s used to eliminate worst practice, but it can be used to drive much better practice than we have in building and construction,” said Prasad.
Dr Virginia Marshall, ANU Institute of Climate, Energy & Disaster Solutions and Co-Chair Indigenous Cluster, emphasised the importance of Indigenous-led research and practice in responding to climate change, and how this work differs from some of the work currently being done.
“We know that the carbon price for many indigenous land councils is far too low. I’ve just come away from a remote area [where] insurance for indigenous rangers to actually exercise their incredible ability to look after land and water, is hindering indigenous land councils.
She reiterated keynote speaker Rev. Dr Raymond Minniecon’s point on the difference between Indigenous and Western educations.
“Before an Aboriginal child reaches the age of 10 or 12, he or she already has a PhD in environmental science,” said Minniecon, who is co-chair of the Indigenous Peoples’ Organisation Australia and director of Bunji Consultancies.
“Before they reach the age of 10, or 12, they already have a PhD in marine biology. Before they reach the age of 10 or 12, they already have a PhD in astronomy, because that’s how the Aboriginal education system works.”