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Academics unite to increase awareness of climate change

Academics unite to increase awareness of climate change

More than 260 academics (updated 13 October) in 38 countries across six continents have joined a unique global initiative to increase people’s awareness and understanding of climate change and its impact.

Known as (GCCW), the movement aims to mobilise academics across all disciplines and to encourage them to connect with their students and communities on climate change action and solutions.

GCCW will be held annually in the third full week of October in the build-up to the annual United Nations Conference of the Parties meeting. In 2015, GCCW will be held from 19 to 25 October, in the lead-up to the UN meeting in Paris in December.

During this week, academics will alter their programs to coordinate their teaching on some aspect of climate change. Participants will also host a range of activities aimed at capturing the attention of students, policy-makers, and the wider community, and demonstrating the need to take action against climate change.  Such action is particularly urgent in relation to climate policy, which GCCW organisers say is inadequate compared to the scale and potentially catastrophic nature of the risks posed by climate change.

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GCCW is a first of its kind of collaboration and is open to academics from all fields; each week more academics are joining the cause. As a senior editor at the monthly , Bronwyn Wake said in a recent NCC article: “Momentum is building, and the variety of people and activities is well on the way to making this first GCCW a success”.

The movement is led by a group of Australian academics primarily based at the ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵapp of ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵapp.

ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵapp based climate scientist Dr Helen McGregor said: “It’s not just climate scientists that need to contribute to climate change solutions. I support Global Climate Change Week because it embraces all disciplines and sends a strong message that urgent action is needed.”

UOW philosophy lecturer Dr Keith Horton said: “Climate change is a major threat to humanity and the ecosystems that support it. Every aspect of society will be affected and we need to bring as many perspectives as possible to the table to deal with the challenges ahead.”

Dr George Takacs, a lecturer in physics at UOW, said: “Dealing successfully with the significant challenges of climate change will require a flexible policy approach that allows for adaptive management. This in turn will require an informed and engaged community, and this is where academics can and must play a role.”

Dr Samuel Wilson, Research Fellow at the Swinburne Institute said: “Addressing the super-wicked challenge of climate change requires leadership across all sectors of the community. As academics, we have a special responsibility to show leadership on climate change and we’re encouraged to see many academics getting behind GCCW.”

ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵapp Events

   
Monday 19 October
6.00pm-7:30pm
Bld 67.104
GCCW Launch with Australian economist and former politician, John Hewson (ANU). Mr Hewson will be delivering a talk on Divestment - '‘Are we risking a climate induced GFC?’.

Tuesday 20 October
8-9.30am

Breakfast event with Dan Daly (UOW) on the Sustainable Buildings Research Centre; Tom Hunt (UOW) on ‘What difference can I make, without it costing the earth?’; Helen Hasan (UOW) on ‘Greening of IT, Greening by IT’.

Tuesday 20 October
2.30pm-3.30pm
Bld 20.3

‘Mapping Climate Change Adjudication’
The Hon. Justice Brian J Preston SC, Chief Judge of the Land and Environment Court in New South Wales, will speak about "Mapping Climate Change Adjudication" as part of Global Climate Change Week.
(organised by UOW School of Law)

Tuesday 20 October
6:00pm-8.00pm 
Beaton Park Tennis Club

Q&A forum on Climate Change with: Sarah Wright (UOW); (UOW), who examines human impacts on natural systems; physics lecturer George Takacs (UOW); climate scientist Helen McGregor (UOW); Brian Andrew (UOW), a Professor of accounting who researches carbon pricing; and Chris Gibson (UOW).

Wednesday 21 October
11am-2pm
UOW McKinnon Lawn

: How to get your commuting emissions down and much more
Presented by the UOW Environmental & Sustainability Initiatives Unit
Wednesday 21 October
4.30pm – 6.00pm
Building 20.3

Panel on Climate Change and Food Security with: Adelaide Haynes (Oxfam);  (UOW), a lecturer in international relations and public policy; Sandra McCarthy (former Mayor Kiama) 
(organised by the Australian Youth Climate Coalition) 

Thursday 22 October
from 1.30pm
Bld 25.128
Climate Change Adaptation with from the ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵapp of Arizona
(organised by UOW School of Law)

Thursday 22 October
6.00pm-9.00pm
ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵapp Town Hall

The ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵapp City Council will be hosting a panel on climate change for Global Climate Change Week.

Pannlists include: Leslie Hughes from Macquarie ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵapp; coastal geomorphologist Colin Woodroffe (UOW); Kerrylee Rogers (UOW); and Helen McGregor, a climate scientist based at UOW 

Friday 23 October
1.30-3.00pm
Bld 20.3

Seminar: Women and Climate Change
Mehreen Faruqi (Green Party); Sharon Robinson (UOW); Melissa Haswell-Elkins (UNSW); and Ella Weisbrot (AYCC)
(organised by the Australian Youth Climate Coalition and FEMSOC)

Friday 23rd October
from 6.00pm
Bld 20.3

Film screening: , a film about those who present themselves as scientific authorities as they speak about climate change.
Presented by the Australian Youth Climate Coalition and the ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵapp Climate Action Network

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