COP31 replacement event quietly warms up in Adelaide
A week-long event focusing on tackling climate change is taking place in Adelaide this week, in a bid to fill some of the giant hole left by the state’s losing bid for COP31.
Adelaide Climate Action Week is happenign this week in Adelaide featuring high-profile speakers exploring how South Australia can extend its lead in sustainability and green industry.
Held in venues across South Australia, ACAW is running until Sunday, August 2, with more than 70 events focusing on the state’s net zero target by 2027, investment in climate projects and artists hoping to do their bit.
It organisers hoped to event would provide some focus on climate change to fill the void left after Adelaide’s $4 million bid to host the global COP31 event in November this year, hopes were dashed after the conference was lost to Turkey.
It led to SA Premier Peter Malinauskas labelling the selection process for host nations as “obscene”, also at the time revealing the state government spent almost $4 million on its failed bid for the climate conference.
This week’s inaugural climate action event is drawing together more than 150 leaders from government, business, academia, First Nations and Pacific communities to help shape South Australia’s contribution to climate change resistance.
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Leading climate scientist Professor Tim Lenton was the headline speaker at yesterday’s opening event, alongside Climate, Environment & Water Minister Emily Bourke and City of Adelaide Lord Mayor Dr Jane Lomax-Smith.
The opening COP31 roundtable culminated in an ACAW Commmuniqué capturing shared priorities and opportunities that was expected to be tabled at the global climate summit being held in Turkey.
In the midst of the event, a new South Australian Climate and Nature Fund – a philanthropic fund anyone can donate into in support of locally-driven projects protecting SA’s environment, nature and climate – was launched this morning at the conference.
Created by Foundation SA, the fund is backed by money from charitable organisation Terra Artemis Foundation and was formally launched at Ayres House.
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“The South Australian Climate and Nature Fund is a powerful way to contribute to meaningful, grassroots change,” Foundation SA CEO Sophie Doyle said.
“It’s local giving with local impact. When we give together, our collective impact grows, and every donation adds up.
“Every dollar donated goes directly toward funding local projects.”
More than 60 organisations were independently hosting events across the week, according to ACAW co-founder Jen St Jack.
“When we connect with new perspectives, reflect on what matters, and commit to one meaningful action, those individual moments create collective momentum. And that’s what ACAW is designed to create,” St Jack said.
InDaily business editor David Simmons was this afternoon set to moderate a panel on the biggest questions in climate finance, featuring the regional lead for Sustainable Finance, Asia and the Pacific, United Nations Development Programme Charles Yu.
Also on the panel are The Next Economy founder Dr Amanda Cahill, Value Australia chief value officer Rayne van den Berg and Foundation SA’s Sophie Doyle.
ACAW runs until August 2. Click here for the full program.
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