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Experts to attend Copenhagen conference
Two academics and a student from the University of the Sunshine Coast have been invited to attend the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen from December 7-18.
They will assist two relatively small countries express their views to the international community at what has been billed as the most important conference of human existence.
USC’s Head of School of Science and Education Professor Noel Meyers will join Indonesia’s delegation at the conference, while Adjunct Professor Dr Robert Kay of Perth and Master of Climate Change Adaptation student Riibeta Abeta will represent the low-lying Pacific island nation of Kiribati.
Dr Kay, who runs a coastal management and climate change impact assessment consultancy in Perth, is excited about helping the Kiribati delegation prepare for and participate in the conference.
“Kiribati is taking very positive steps to understand the full extent of their vulnerability to climate change and to make sure the rest of the international community recognises their vulnerability,” he said.
“My role is to help the country really gain that voice that they are looking for.”
Dr Kay will work alongside USC postgraduate student Riibeta Abeta, 31, who is from Kiribati and has represented his country at numerous climate change conferences.
Mr Abeta previously worked for Kiribati’s Environment and Conservation Department in climate change planning, before gaining an AusAid Australian Leadership Award Scholarship to study at USC this year.
“I used to represent my country in a number of regional workshops, meetings and international conferences including UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) Conference of the Parties meetings since 2004,” he said.
“This year, my government again invited me to be part of their national delegation. This is important for me to be part of their preparatory process and also very useful to my current study at USC.”
Mr Abeta said his country hoped the Copenhagen conference would result in stronger commitments to emission reductions and climate change adaptation actions.
— Terry Walsh