EVENT OVERVIEW

Climate policy is emerging as one of the world's most testing economic, political and social challenges since CEDA began nearly 50 years ago. In the lead-up to the UN Climate Change conference in Copenhagen, CEDA has released an extensive research report on the policy context.

In tandem with the report, a national series of events has been planned to encourage open and informed public discussion. This breakfast forum will explore international perspectives on policy development. How much is expected of the United States, given President Obama's campaign pledges to reduce emissions? Can a global consensus be achieved, and what will be Australia's role, amid negotiations with developed and developing economies?

This important forum draws on the insights of two of the report's authors, Dr Adele C. Morris, a Fellow with the US's Brookings Institute; Alan Oxley, Principal, ITS Global, and Chairman, Australian APEC Study Centre; and Louise Hand, the Australian government's climate change ambassador. All attendees will receive a copy of the 150 page report.

MEET THE SPEAKERS

Dr Adele C. Morris, Fellow and Deputy Director, Climate and Energy Economics Project The Brookings Institute

Prior to her current role, Dr Morris was the senior economist for the Joint Economic Committee. She served nine years with the US Treasury Department as its chief natural resource economist. On assignment to the US Department of State in 2000, she was the lead US negotiator on land use and forestry issues in the international climate change treaty process. She served as the senior economist for environmental affairs at the President's Council of Economic Advisers during the development of the Kyoto Protocol. She holds a PhD in Economics from Princeton University, an MS in Mathematics from the University of Utah, and a BA from Rice University.

Louise Hand, Ambassador for Climate Change Australian Government

Ms Hand is a senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, currently seconded to the Department of Climate Change. Prior to her appointment as Ambassador for Climate Change in 2009 she was Minister and Deputy Head of Mission at the  Australian Embassy, Jakarta (2005 to 2009).  Ms Hand has served overseas as Ambassador to Cambodia (2000 to 2003), Counsellor, Australian Permanent Mission on Disarmament, Geneva (1995 to 1998), and Third later Second Secretary, Australian Embassy, Vienna (1986 to 1989).

Alan Oxley, Principal, ITS Global and Chairman, APEC Study Centre

Alan Oxley is Principal of ITS Global, consultants on global issues. ITS Global are experts in international economic, trade and environmental  agreements and related public policy issues. Alan is a former Australian Ambassador to, and Chairman of the GATT, the predecessor to the World Trade Organization. He is Chairman of World Growth, a Virginia-based free market non-governmental organisation and of the Australian APEC Study Centre at RMIT University. World Growth has published research papers on the interface of development and sustainability in climate change, biosecurity and forestry.