Climate Conversations: The power of industry leaders to shift the dial

Young Australians are experiencing eco-anxiety so acute that it has taken them onto the streets and into the courts to fight for their futures. While federal politicians accuse them of being ‘climate alarmists’, Australian businesses are responding – or at least appear to be responding – by listening and acting for positive climate action.

Along with the growing recognition of their role in clean energy transition, business leaders have – at times – filled the vacuum on climate policy, taking the lead where the government will not. Such leaders recognise the value of collaboration, the strength of the levers they can pull and the balance between driving change, making social impact and increasing revenue streams. But how real, effective and swift are the actions being taken by industry?

As COP26 draws nearer, shining a spotlight on the progress made toward net-zero targets, how do we assess whether businesses’ sustainability plans are purely greenwashing and what lessons can they take to implement more successful strategies? And, if they’re working, why won’t the government fall in line?

Join Melbourne Climate Futures at the University of Melbourne for an important discussion around the power of industry leaders in driving change, the role of industry in filling the policy and social vacuum, and the potential benefits for shareholders, our economy and the country of adopting climate action initiatives.

Four policy experts and business leaders representing companies whose climate strategies are notionally stronger than the Australian Federal Government’s will share their insights.