Al Gore to headline new Australian engineering conference

Former US Vice President and environmentalist Al Gore will headline a new Australian climate-focused engineering conference, to be held in Sydney and online this November.

The Nobel Peace Prize recipient will join a lineup of experts at Engineers Australia’s inaugural Climate Smart Engineering (CSE) conference on 16-17 November to discuss the opportunities and challenges posed by climate change.

Gore served eight years as Vice President, from 1993-2001, before starring in the 2006 documentary film An Inconvenient Truth, which sparked a global movement against the climate crisis.  

He went on to found The Climate Reality Project, which brings together a diverse group of people, from activists to cultural leaders, organisers, scientists and storytellers to help solve what Gore has called the “greatest challenge of our time.”

Gore was recognised for his work in 2007, when he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for “informing the world of the dangers posed by climate change”.

CSE attendees will also hear from sought-after speakers including Paul Polman, former CEO of Unilever and member of the United Nations Secretary General’s High-Level Panel, which developed sustainable development goals, and Emilio Granadas Franco, Head of Global Risks and Geopolitical Agenda at the World Economic Forum.

Engineers Australia CEO Dr Bronwyn Evans AO HonFIEAust CPEng said the event will bring together leaders in business, finance and government, as well as engineering, to discuss how engineers can bring their ingenuity, technical skills and creative problem solving to the table to help address and solve the challenges of climate change.

This includes driving change by providing unbiased advice to decision makers and the public, and communicating the consequences of inaction. 

“Mitigation and adaptation to climate change cannot be successful without engineers, whose work spans all industries,” Dr Evans said.

“A UN Engineering for Sustainable Development report highlights the crucial role that engineering plays in achieving the 17 sustainable development goals of the UN.”

As well as the plenary sessions, CSE will include a packed technical program covering everything from transport to buildings and infrastructure, energy and corporate sustainability. 

It is vital that engineers across all disciplines understand the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of mitigating and adapting to climate change, as well as how to meaningfully measure, and report on, progress. As part of this, engineers need a forum to share case studies and practical examples of best practice, which CSE will provide.

“The conference is designed to connect minds and showcase engineering solutions which will assist with addressing climate change and bring together business, finance and government officials,” Dr Evans said.

“It will also demonstrate that engineering in partnership and in collaboration can be responsive to and effective in achieving a common goal or global target, as we have witnessed during the pandemic.”

Aside from an impressive line-up of speakers and an informative technical program, the conference will also feature a night of celebration, with the Australian Engineering Excellence Award winners announced at the Pinnacles Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, 16 November.

To register to attend or participate virtually in the conference, visit www.eacse.com.au.