Climate Change Down Under

Free Public Seminar
Saturday 1 September 2007

A fresh and wider view of climate change as it affects Queenslanders.

Jump to Seminar Program

The idea

We are all familiar with the arguments about rising carbon levels and global warming. Oceans are becoming more acidic, reefs are being bleached and the country is in the grip of the worst drought on record. What is different about this seminar is that the speakers will look at the long term history of the climate and consider the fascinating lessons this has for today and the future.

Did you know?

Carbon levels in the atmosphere in the past have been higher than today?
The oceans have been acidified before
The last time sea level rose it rose over 100 metres!
New evidence suggests that the climate can change dramatically eg from ice age to interglacial in a very short period of time
Aboriginal people may have had to cope with sea level rises of 5 metres a week and lived through an ‘arid’ period far worse than anything apparent today
The Great Barrier Reef is only a recent entity.

The Panel

A panel of geologists, archaeologists, biologists, meteorologists, historians and conservationists examine, from a broad range of perspectives, the history of climate change in Queensland - ranging from geological time to the present day. They then speculate on the future and outline some of the priorities for action.

Focus on Queensland

Speakers will have a specific focus on Queensland outlining very practically what climate change has meant and what it will mean for Queensland. However, they will also consider the wider Australian and world context.
Climate Change Down Under - a fascinating subject worthy of robust debate.

When and Where

Queensland Museum South Bank Theatre, Saturday 1 September 2007, 10am – 3.15pm. FREE entry and morning tea. Registration from 9.30am.
Bookings essential Phone: (07) 3840 7555. Please be early as seating is limited and this is going to be a very popular seminar. FREE entry, morning tea provided. Courtyard Café will be open for lunch.

The Seminar

Name
Topic
Time

Introduction
Mr. Richard Cassels, Queensland Museum Hon. Research Fellow (Environmental History & Sustainable Futures).
Climate Change in Queensland: the “big picture”.
10.00

FIRST SESSION: CLIMATE CHANGE AND NATURE

Dr. Alex Cook, Senior Curator, Geosciences, Queensland Museum.
Geological perspective on climate change in Queensland.
10.05

Dr. Steve Williams
Climate change and terrestrial biodiversity (tropical).
10.25

Prof. Terry Hughes, James Cook University, Townsville.
Climate change and marine biodiversity.
10.45

Questions and discussion
11.05

Morning tea
11.25

SECOND SESSION: CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE HUMAN PERIOD

Mr.Mike Rowland, Principal Archaeologist Cultural Heritage Coordination Unit, Department of Natural Resources and Water.
The last 60,000 years: an archaeological perspective on climate change.
11.45

Dr. Hamish McGowan, University of Queensland.
Historical and contemporary climate history- the record from North Stradbroke.
12.05

Ms Anne Farrell, Bureau of Meteorology, Brisbane
The last hundred years: the meteorological record in Queensland and future climate projections.
12.25

Questions and discussion
12.45

Lunch
1.00

THIRD SESSION: RESPONDING TO CLIMATE CHANGE

Queensland Government Climate Change Centre for Excellence (speaker to be advised).
The Queensland Government’s strategy for climate change.
1.45

Mr Lloyd Stumer, Climate presenter, Australian Conservation Foundation; meteorologist, wind farmer.
Future climate and what we can do about it.
2.05

Prof. Ian Lowe, President Australian Conservation Foundation.
Summary and conclusion; global warming- adaptation, mitigation, education.
2.25

Questions and discussion
2.45

Conclusion
3.15