There are five oceans and five first-place winners of the 11th annual Photo Competition for United Nations World Oceans Day (UN WOD). The winners were announced at the United Nations headquarters in New York City on Friday, June 7.
The post Meet the Winners of the 11th Annual UN World Oceans Day Photo Competition appeared first on EcoWatch.
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In a world grappling with the escalating impacts of climate change, urgent action is essential to confront the environmental challenges threatening our planet’s future. Human activity has led to changes to Earth’s climate of a magnitude unprecedented over centuries and thousands of years. As the effects of climate change rapidly intensify, demand for specialists trained to address these pressing issues has never been greater.
At the University of Newcastle, the Master of Environmental Management and Sustainability aims to develop these specialists. The program offers a unique blend of environmental courses that focus on key principles of environmental management, sustainability, and climate change.
“The program has a very good reputation with alumni and current students, scoring highly on student satisfaction of teaching,” says program convenor Geoff MacFarlane.
“It is also accredited by the United Nations in teaching sustainable development goals in the curriculum.”
The core courses are certified by both the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), and Newcastle’s International Training Centre for Authorities and Leaders (CIFAL), the only CIFAL centre in Australia and Asia Pacific region. These courses ensure graduates have been taught best practice skills that can be immediately applied to their career.
“The career destinations of graduates are diverse, with many entering government roles at the local, state and federal level in sustainability and environmental management,” said Geoff.
“The Master of Environmental Management and Sustainability program gives students a good understanding of the complexities of the natural world, the vulnerability of socio-economic and natural systems to climate change as well as strategies to mitigate the activities that are driving our changing climate and strategies to adapt to the changing climate,” emphasised Michael Osborne, an academic who teaches into the program.
Students can tailor their learning with the option to study two of three specialty areas: business management, natural resource management, and spatial science. Suitable for people from a range of backgrounds and experience, the degree caters for both suitably qualified graduates from related fields and mid-career professionals wishing to gain postgraduate qualifications in the field. There are study pathways from 80 units to 160 units depending on your level of experience. Students can study at a time that suits with the program offered 100% online with multiple intakes per year.
Current student Danielle spoke about one of the courses offered within the program. “The course content was highly relevant, addressing critical aspects of environmental science and public policy. The focus on climate change — an urgent global challenge — captivated my interest and underscored the course’s significance,” Danielle emphasised.
“I gained a comprehensive understanding of international climate agreements and conventions. Learning about the processes behind launching, negotiating, and ratifying these agreements was eye-opening,” she added.
“The knowledge and skills I acquired through ENVS6545 [Impact Assessment and Climate Change Policy course] are invaluable to my work. I am already applying my learnings related to the IPCC, international treaties, and the achievement of sustainable development goals (SDGs),” she continued.
There is also a shorter Graduate Certificate in Environmental Management and Sustainability, a 40-unit 100% online program that provides core knowledge and is designed to provide credit into the Master’s program, allowing students to complete two degrees in less time.
Applications are now open. Visit newcastle.edu.au/enviro-sustainability for more information.
Image caption: Photo of student Danielle (right) and staff members from SPREP, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment in Samoa and the Japanese Technical Cooperation Project for Promotion of Regional Initiative on Solid Waste Management, Phase II in Pacific Island Countries (J-PRISM II). Taken on 30 April 2024.
Top image credit: iStock.com/Petmal
New South Wales Premier, Chris Minns; Steven Worrall, MD of Microsoft ANZ; Rob Gell AM, Chief Sustainability Officer of Solar Recovery Corporation (also the President of Royal Society of Victoria and a member of the Order of Australia); Hanno Blankenstein, Co-founder and CEO of AI powered video and sensor platform Unleash live have joined a stellar line-up of global and local leaders to speak at Siemens’ Beyond 1% Summit in Sydney on 3rd and 4th July.
The newly announced speakers will join CSIRO Chief Scientist Bronwyn Fox; Stephan May, global CEO of Electrification and Automation, Siemens; and Florence Lindhaus, head of the Hydrogen Cluster at German-Australian Chamber of Industry and Commerce to discuss how digitalisation and new technology can accelerate sustainability outcomes for Australia, grow the economy and drive business success.
Also confirming their commitment to progressing the discussions around technology and sustainability are APS Industrial who have joined as a master distributor partner, Swinburne University of Technology, SAGE Group and Ampcontrol, who have joined as gold sponsors, and Australian Industry Group, Energy Efficiency Council, European Australian Business Council and the German-Australian Chamber of Industry and Commerce who have joined as industry partners of the Summit.
Themed Beyond 1%, the Summit will look at how Australia can embrace key technologies and innovate to do more for long-term sustainability than just address reducing the 1% of global emissions the country is responsible for.
Welcoming the opportunity to speak at the Summit, David Chuter, Executive Director, Industry Growth AusIndustry, Department of Industry Science and Resources said, “Why do design and manufacturing innovation matter? I can’t think of a more important answer than helping to address our net zero sustainability commitments — while at the same time growing Australian capability, business competitiveness and economic strength and complexity. Digitalisation is a key driver for innovation and therefore critical in addressing our ambitious sustainability targets. We have the opportunity to create impact both in Australia and also to help benefit the world.”
Agenda overview
The recently released Summit agenda outlines how these speakers and other industry leaders will discuss critical technology topics that impact sustainability including AI, hydrogen, renewable energy transition, grid resilience, energy efficiency in the built environment, industry funding, mandatory climate reporting and more.
Through a range of plenary discussions and breakout sessions, topics will include:
The Built Environment – Embracing energy efficiency to ease the burden on BIG decarbonisation targets
Energy efficiency plays an increasingly important role in nations achieving their decarbonisation commitments. What does this look like? Where are the greatest opportunities? And what roles do digitalisation and technology play as the key enablers?
Accelerating industrial innovation for global sustainability impact
With the right net zero lens, many innovations have broad sustainability benefits across entire sectors and supply chains. Reducing raw materials. Eliminating waste. Designing decarbonisation from the start. Product life cycle and its relation to circular economy. Digital twins through to AI and more. This session will look at the potential role of Australian industry on decarbonising the world and share real examples of what good looks like today.
Circular economy avoiding environmental disasters by turning waste streams into resource streams
This plenary session will look at real examples and innovations to turn pending environmental and embedded carbon disasters into high-value opportunities in sectors such as healthcare, building and construction and even the renewables industry itself.
Workshop – Practical Guide to Sustainability – Transforming your business for success
This workshop is designed to help individuals and organisations understand their sustainability objectives and will outline practical sustainability steps that businesses can take to reduce their operating costs and improve their bottom line. Doyen of practical sustainability and change, Jon Dee, will share the key tools, steps and secrets to making big changes happen.
There’s more to hydrogen than electrolysers
This session will explore opportunities for hydrogen applications in Australia and provide a summary update and progress report from the latest global hydrogen summits.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
AI gives industry unparalleled opportunities in digitalisation, data driven decision-making and innovation. It can play a significant role in sustainability. But where do we stand on testing, transparency and secure future-planning with AI and what are practical applications that are inspiring and already changing the world?
What does cybersecurity have to do with sustainability?
This session will look at cybersecurity of critical infrastructure and the very real connection between cybersecurity, digitalisation and the impact on achieving decarbonisation targets.
Event details
Date: Wednesday 3rd and Thursday 4th July 2024
Location: Sheraton Grand Sydney Hyde Park
The two-day Summit also includes a gala event to recognise some of the prime Australian examples who already represent the ideals and opportunities of ‘Beyond 1%’.
For registration and more details go to: https://www.siemens.com/au/en/company/fairs-events/beyond-summit.html.
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