- Professor Tim Flannery
Recently axed Climate Commission head, Professor Tim Flannery says that overwhelming public support has prompted the group to continue its work as a privately funded group to be known as the Climate Council.
The announcement comes only days after the new Coalition Government axed the Commission which they deemed unnecessary. However, Professor Flannery has noted that people from all sides of politics and members of the public have urged the Commissioners to continue their critical work aimed at educating the public about the latest research and the science of climate change as well as economic factors and news of international action.
Talking on ABC News Breakfast on 24 September 2013, Professor Flannery insisted that any donors to the new Climate Council would not be allowed to influence or compromise the integrity of the group’s work.
Professor Flannery also noted that past Commissioners Will Steffen and Lesley Hughes will play an important role later this week to comment on the release of the 5th Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
To donate to the Climate Council, visit their website here.
For more detail on the future of the Climate Commission, visit the following news services:
The Guardian Australia
ABC News 24
About the now defunct Climate Commission
The Climate Commission was established to provide all Australians with an independent and reliable source of information about:
- the science of climate change,
- the international action being taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and
- the economics of a carbon price.
The Commission meets with people all around Australia, and has published a number of reports explaining climate change and what it means for us. During 2012, the Commission looks forward to meeting with many more, and will be producing new information on the science and impacts of climate change as well as the opportunities – in Australia and worldwide – that acting on climate change will bring.
The Commission was made up of experts from a range of fields relevant to climate change and is not subject to Government direction. The Commission is also supported by a Science Advisory Panel. Read our full Terms of Reference.
As at September 2013, The Commissioners were:
Professor Tim Flannery (Chief Commissioner), is one of Australia’s leading writers on climate change. An internationally acclaimed scientist, explorer and conservationist, Professor Flannery was named Australian of the Year in 2007.
Roger Beale AO is an economist and public policy expert, and currently the Executive Director of Economics and Policy at Pricewaterhouse Coopers.
Gerry Hueston is a prominent businessman who recently retired as President of BP Australasia, after a career with BP spanning 34 years in a variety of management and senior executive roles in New Zealand, Australia, Europe and the United Kingdom.
Professor Lesley Hughes is an ecologist in the Department of Biological Sciences at Macquarie University and an expert on the impacts of climate change on species and ecosystems.
Professor Veena Sahajwalla is Associate Dean (Strategic Industry Relations), Faculty of Science, and Director, Centre for Sustainable Materials Research and Technology, at the University of New South Wales.
Professor Will Steffen is a climate science expert and researcher at the Australian National University, Canberra.