As part of our Vivid Sydney event series we heard from Anna Rose, activist and environmentalist, Professor Martina Linnenluecke, internationally recognised expert on the strategic and financial implications of corporate adaptation and resilience to the impacts of client change, and Professor Daniel Barber, architectural historian and theorist, on how we can encourage climate action in our community (and rally the sceptics!).
Here are our three thoughts from the discussion.
1. We choose comfort over climate
UTS Head of Architecture, Professor Barber, explained that during the latest heatwaves in the UK, a coal power station was fired up to meet consumer air conditioning demands. He called for the culture of being comfortable to be reassessed to help combat climate change. As a contrast, Professor Barber showed architectural designs of office buildings from the 1940’s designed with air circulation in mind, featuring venetian blinds, louvered windows and an understanding of the impacts of the sun on the building temperature throughout the day. Validating that there is no need for air conditioning in a well-designed building.
MMM Roberto, Marques do Herval, Rio de Janeiro, 1952. Source: Victor and Aladar Olgyay, Solar Control and Shading Devices (New York: Reinhold, 1957
2. The right voice cuts through
Anna Rose explained her experiences in climate action, particularly her work with the “Farmers for Climate Action” group, where they campaign for sensible, science-based state and national action on climate change. Previously, farmers were sceptical of the perceived ‘lefty’ intentions of the climate movement, but as a collective, the National Farmers Federation has endorsed an all economy net zero by 2050, and have shifted the conversation to sustainable farming practices. Rose points to the many groups for climate action; surfers, parents, doctors, in providing a unified front to rally communities and petition government.
3. Climate capitalism "is a thing"
Professor Linnenluecke, from the UTS Business School, discussed one of the key motivators for big business was the opportunities around creating sustainable products and businesses. Whether this is linked to altruism or greed, it is estimated that clean tech patents will be worth between $AUD 13- $AUD 21 trillion dollars by 2050.
Want to fight climate change? A recent joint white paper by UTS Finance Department, Associate Professor Gerhard Hambusch and Associate Professor Vitali Alexeev, and Australian Ethical Investment titled “A little goes a long way: The most effective ways to lower your carbon footprint", identifies the most effective ways individuals can reduce their carbon footprint.