Climate Institute of Australia

The Climate Institute is a Sydney-based policy think-tank established in 2005 to encourage progressive policies for managing climate change in Australia. Its board consists of a mixture of academics and business people drawn from rural, scientific and business backgrounds.

Recent research work by the Institute includes analysis of the vulnerability of sport to the growing physical impacts of climate change,[1] modelling the effects of Australia’s Renewable Energy Target,[2] and examining the financial impacts of delayed climate change action.[3][4] The Institute also produces an annual Climate of the Nation report, which is a comprehensive survey of Australians’ attitudes on climate change, its impacts and solutions.[5]

An important component of The Climate Institute’s work is in building alliances and networks representing organisations across Australia’s economy and society to achieve diverse support for strong action on climate change. It has been a lead player in key business alliances such as the Australian Climate Roundtable.[6]

Through its role in the Asset Owners Disclosure Project, the Institute was also a pioneer in trying to get large asset owners – such as superannuation and pension funds – to recognise and disclosure carbon risk.[7]

The Institute was originally set up for 5 years under funding provided by the Poola Foundation's Tom Kantor fund.[8] The Institute has now been running for more than a decade, but the expiry of significant philanthropic support means that it now faces key challenges if it is to continue to operate beyond 2017. In December 2015, The Age reported that the organisation was struggling with fundraising, as its core funding ran out.[9] The Institute has been very actively seeking new donors.

Board of directors

Climate of the Nation

The Climate Institute has conducted research into the attitudes of Australians on climate change, its impacts and solutions, regularly since 2007.[5] The results, based on quantitative and qualitative social research, have been captured in Climate of the Nation reports. The data has become a key benchmark used by the climate/environment movement, media and other key stakeholders, domestically and internationally.

Alliances and networks

The Climate Institute has helped to set up and/or actively participates in the following alliances and networks focused on building diverse support for action on climate change:[10]

Asset Owners Disclosure Project

The Asset Owners Disclosure Project (AODP) was originally developed as an initiative of The Climate Institute in 2008. The AODP is now an independent global not-for-profit global organisation aiming to protect asset owners from the risks posed by climate change, although it maintains a close working relationship with the Institute.

The AODP works with pension funds, insurance companies, sovereign wealth funds, foundations and universities to improve the level of disclosure and industry best practice. It conducts an annual survey and assessment of the world’s 1000 largest asset owners and publishes the AODP Global Climate 500 Index, which ranks these organisations based on their management of climate change risks.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Sport & Climate Impacts: | The Climate Institute". www.climateinstitute.org.au. Retrieved 2016-02-07.
  2. "Renewable Energy Target | The Climate Institute". www.climateinstitute.org.au. Retrieved 2016-02-07.
  3. "Buyer Beware: Home Insurance, Extreme Weather and Climate Change | The Climate Institute". www.climateinstitute.org.au. Retrieved 2016-02-07.
  4. "Climate Smart Super: Understanding Superannuation & Climate Risk | The Climate Institute". www.climateinstitute.org.au. Retrieved 2016-02-07.
  5. 1 2 "Climate of the Nation 2015 | The Climate Institute". www.climateinstitute.org.au. Retrieved 2016-02-07.
  6. "Climate Roundtable | The Climate Institute". www.climateinstitute.org.au. Retrieved 2016-02-07.
  7. "Asset Owners Disclosure Project | The Climate Institute". www.climateinstitute.org.au. Retrieved 2016-02-07.
  8. Barry, Paul. "Rich Crusaders - Eve Kantor". The Power Index. Retrieved 2016-02-07.
  9. Morton, Adam (2015-12-20). "Climate Institute fights for survival as philanthropic donation runs out". The Age. Retrieved 2016-02-07.
  10. "Alliances + Networks | The Climate Institute". www.climateinstitute.org.au. Retrieved 2016-02-07.

External links

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