Guest speakers such as Rt Hon. Helen Clark, Climate Change Minister Hon. James Shaw and School Strike 4 Climate national coordinator Sophie Handford are joining Victoria University of Wellington staff and students for a week of free public events providing fresh thinking for a more sustainable world.
Toitū te Ao–Sustainability Week, 9–13 September, follows the University’s endorsement earlier this week of the upcoming School Strike for Climate and will culminate in the launch of the University’s detailed plan to reduce its carbon footprint.
The week offers an opportunity to learn more about Victoria University of Wellington researchers’ discoveries and ideas towards improving the social, environmental, and economic wellbeing of the world around us.
Highlights include former Prime Minister and Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme Ms Clark in conversation, a keynote lecture by climate expert and 2018 Prime Minister’s Science Communication Prize recipient Professor James Renwick, a panel discussion featuring Ms Handford about what it takes to be a good citizen in the face of climate change, and a look at ways to create a sustainable New Zealand economy.
Minister Shaw will be speaking at the launch of the University’s comprehensive new emissions management programme before joining Vice-Chancellor Professor Grant Guilford and others for a panel discussion about the role of universities in transitioning to a zero carbon future.
Events also include a talk on the energy cost of data stored on computers and online accounts—and how to delete it.
And in ‘Speed-dating the future’ 10 University researchers will have three minutes each to explain such innovations as bio-plastics from bees, circular-economy frames for houses, green criminology and next-generation photovoltaics.
For a full calendar of University events and to reserve a place in the audience, people should visit https://www.victoria.ac.nz/sustainability/sustainability-week.
There is also a programme of student-led events, including a Generation Zero-hosted discussion about how Wellington can become zero-carbon, liveable and equitable. The programme is available at https://www.vuwsa.org.nz/toitu-te-ao.
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