Global Climate Change Week
19 - 23 October 2020
A Sustainable USC Event
Climate Change is a topic that is on the minds of young people, including many of USC's students and staff members. A strong majority (70%) of adults aged 18 to 34 admit to worrying about global warming. Global Climate Change Week 2020 focused on ways to combat that anxiety by demistifying climate change. GCCW 2020 themes were:
- Knowledge is Power: The more you know about climate change, the easier it is to figure out what you can do to be proactive.
- Don't be Intimidated: Climate change can be big and scary, but once you break it down and understand your own climate footprint, you can figure out where to start your sustainability journey.
- Start Small, Think Big: Any small action you take can make a difference and might just be the inspiration for your friends and family to start their own sustainability journeys.
USC hosted events that aimed to engage USC students and staff on a range of sustainability issues, from energy, transport and waste, to water and biodiversity. The events were designed to be informative, yet not overwhelming. They were based on the areas of teaching, research and operational expertise that exists at the University so that students and staff could see, and hopefully be inspired by, real life examples. These activities included a poster competition, Zoom Q&As, documentary screenings of Rubber Jellyfish, a water battery/sustainability tour and a Ride2USC bike clinic.
Sustainability poster competition
Promote USC's goal of carbon neutrality by 2025
Q&As
USC wants you to engage with climate change in a way that makes it less scary and overwhelming. One of the key ways to do this is through discussion. Therefore, the University hosted 3 Q&As with USC researchers, academics and leaders to help you understand the (local) context of climate change and feel inspired by some of the work being done to mitigate and adapt to related impacts.
The sessions were:
Tuesday, 20 October: Climate Change, Sustainability, SEQ & USC
The video is available to USC staff and students on USC's Blackboard via the Sustainability USC page.
Details
| Panellist | Topic |
|
Prof Joanne Scott Pro Vice-Chancellor (Engagement) |
USC's Approach to Sustainability |
|
Prof Tim Smith Professor of Sustainability Science |
State of the Climate in Southeast Queensland & Expected Impacts |
|
Prof David Schoeman Professor of Global-Change Ecology |
State of the Climate in Southeast Queensland & Expected Impacts |
|
Prof Patrick Nunn Professor of Geography |
Indigenous Knowledge Around Climate Change & State of the Climate |
|
Anne Marie DeRose Sustainability Officer |
USC's Footprint and Emissions-Reducing Initiatives |
Wednesday, 21 October: Flora, Fauna & The Impacts of Climate Change
The video is available to USC staff and students on USC's Blackboard via the Sustainability USC page.
Details
| Panellist | Topic |
|
Dr. Alexandra Campbell Lecturer in Bioscience |
Adaptation: Impacts of Climate Change on Marine Life |
|
Dr. Libby Swanepoel Lecturer, Nutrition & Dietetics |
Adaptation: Superfood of the Future |
|
Prof Nicholas Paul Professor of Marine Science |
Adaptation: Greening Cattle |
|
Dr. Romane Cristescu Post Doctoral Research Fellow |
Adaptation: Bushfires & Detection Dogs |
Thursday, 22 October: Climate Change Adaptation - Impacts and Planning
A link to the Q&A via Blackboard is coming soon.
Details
| Panellist | Topics |
|
Dr. Javier Leon Senior Lecturer in Physical Geography |
Adaptation: Coastlines |
|
Dr. Kylie Scales Senior Lecturer in Animal Ecology |
Fisheries Adaptations to Climate Change Impact |
|
Prof Mark Brown Deputy Director, Forest Research Institute Director, Forest Industries Research Centre |
Biomass for Bioenergy |
|
Dr. Nicholas Stevens Senior Lecturer in Regional & Urban Planning |
Building a More Active Community |
|
Prof Claudia Baldwin Professor of Planning |
Heat Wave Planning & Planning the Noosa Youth Climate Summit |
|
Kerry Neill Kabi Kabi (Gubbi Gubbi) community member Director, Triballink Pty Ltd USC Indigenous and Transcultural Research Centre Collaborator |
Indigenous Knowledge, Involvement in Planning and Connections to the Land |
Poster Competition
The poster competition has ended. Follow the link in the upper right-hand corner of this webpage to see the winning posters.