If you want to learn more about Climate Change and its predicted impact on the Hawkesbury, then come along to the Hawkesbury Climate Forum, organised by the Macquarie Electorate Student Climate Activists (MESCA). It will be held on Thursday, 29 August from 6.30pm to 8.30pm at Hawkesbury Central Library, Tebbutt Room, 300 George Street, Windsor.
Supported by Hawkesbury City Council, the Hawkesbury Climate Forum aims to raise broad discussions about climate change with the local community, the Mayor of Hawkesbury, Councillor Barry Calvert said.
“Council is assisting MESCA to conduct a local forum which will hopefully generate more involvement from all levels of the community,” the Mayor said.
“From farmers to residents to businesses and environmentalists, from grandparents to their grandchildren, we all have an interest in our climate and how greenhouse gases are affecting our world, both from a local and global perspective.
“This is about Council, MESCA, climate related experts and the community talking together so we can build a resilient and adaptable community, and secure a better climate future,” Councillor Calvert said.
Speakers and topics will include:
- Macquarie Electorate Student Climate Activists, William Potter and Helen McCarthy: Why are school students going on strike?
- Deputy Mayor, Hawkesbury City Council, Mary Lyons-Buckett: Why did Hawkesbury Council declare a climate emergency?”
- Deputy Commissioner Fire and Rescue NSW (Retired), Ken Thompson: Life on the Frontline of Climate Change
- Principal Brewongle Environmental Education Centre, Steven Body: Climate Science – Overview
- School of Business Western Sydney University, Dr Neil Perry:The cost of climate action vs the cost of doing nothing
- Forum Moderator, Damien Feneley, Greater Western Sydney Regional Centre of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development, a United Nations endorsed program.
The Deputy Mayor, Councillor Mary Lyons-Buckett, said “climate change is affecting us all and we need to talk about it and work together”.
“The climate of the Hawkesbury-Nepean is getting warmer and, with projected increases in evaporation, it’s also likely to be drier,” Councillor Lyons-Buckett said.
“This also means an increase in heat waves, increased bushfire risk and severe winds, storms and even more extreme seasonal rainfall which will increase the chances of flooding, despite the drier, warmer weather conditions.
“We are also realising that human life, our natural ecosystems and property are at increased risk due to these severe weather events. Even water quality is at risk due to increased fire activity from sediment, ash and chemical fire retardants,” she added.
“Global greenhouse gas emissions are playing a big part in climate change from the local to the international level.”
“This is going to be an important forum for the Hawkesbury with opportunities for audience engagement,” Councillor Lyons-Buckett said.
“I’m really looking forward to participating in this forum and to meeting residents who want to know more about climate change so that we can all do something about it.”
To register your booking, please use the link below. Spaces are filling quickly.
What: Hawkesbury Climate Forum
When: Thursday, 29 August 6.30pm to 8.30pm
Where: Deerubbin Centre, Windsor Library, Tebbutt Room
Bookings: https://hawkesburyclimateforum.eventbrite.com.au
In addition to Hawkesbury City Council, the event is also proudly supported by Richmond Rotary, WomanSong, Kurrajong-North Richmond Rotary, Brewongle Environmental Education Centre, Hawkesbury Environment Network and the Regional Centre of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development.
Background
Hawkesbury City Council recognises that:
- we are in a state of climate emergency that requires urgent action by all levels of government
- human induced climate change represents one of the greatest threats to humanity, civilisation, and other species and
- that it is still possible to prevent the most catastrophic outcomes if we take emergency action.
At the Council meeting on 12 March 2019, Council resolved on the motion of Councillor Lyons-Buckett, seconded by Councillor Wheeler, that Council:
1. Recognises that we are in a state of climate emergency that requires urgent action by all levels of government, that human induced climate change represents one of the greatest threats to humanity, civilisation, and other species and that it is still possible to prevent the most catastrophic outcomes if, and only if, societies take emergency action.
2. Participate in a climate emergency workshop to examine how our Community Strategic Plan, works program and planning documents can address the climate emergency, and which results in an outline of options available to Council to operationalise this emergency declaration.
