The program

Keynote speakers – setting the scene
Panel discussions - transport, energy, agriculture and carbon offsets
Workshop – key regional opportunities for emission reductions

About

This Regional Zero Emissions Forum aims to bring together local government, community, and business representatives from across the Loddon Campaspe, Mallee, and Grampians regions to explore emerging opportunities for the region to accelerate progress towards our collective emissions reduction goals. The forum will inform the development of:

A Regional Zero Emissions Roadmap
The Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance Action Plan

Both documents will identify priority emission reduction projects and advocacy initiatives for the Loddon Campaspe, Mallee and Grampians regions.

Development of the Regional Zero Emissions Roadmap, including the Forum, is being funded by Regional Development Victoria and is being delivered by the Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance and the City of Greater Bendigo, through the Greater Bendigo Climate Collaboration.

Panel Discussion Topics

The forum will include keynote speakers and four panel discussions focusing on:

Achieving an equitable clean energy transition for households and small businesses
Pathways to zero emissions for transport
Pathways to zero emissions for agriculture
The role, opportunities, and limitations of local carbon offsets in the transition

Speakers

Speakers confirmed to date include:

· Richard Denniss, Executive Director, Australia Institute (keynote)

· Annika Kearton, Executive Officer, Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance (keynote)

· Rob McLeod, Policy and Research Manager and Sustainable Housing Lead, Renew

· Rohan Clarke, Director, Regen Farmers Mutual

· Bill Grant, Future Regions Research Centre, Federation University

· Graeme Anderson, Climate Specialist, Agriculture Victoria

· Glen Walker, Vice President, SEA Electric

· Nick Lewis, Cassinia Environmental

· Oli Moraes, Project Manager, DJAARA

· Jill Cainey, Director, Distributed Energy, Clean Energy Council

· Elliot Fishman, Director, Institute for Sensible Transport

· Kieran Hurley, Senior Policy Officer, Department of Transport and Planning

· Wayne Westcott, CEO, Greenfleet

Who should attend

The forum will be relevant to anyone interested in exploring the pathway to zero net emissions for the Loddon Campaspe, Mallee and Grampians regions including local government (councillors and council staff), sustainability groups, community organisations, businesses, non-government organisations and state government departments and agencies.