FENNER SCHOOL SEMINARS

Fenner Student Seminars
Wednesday 14 October 2009, Hancock Seminar Room, 6th Floor, Hancock Building

Fenner School Seminar Series

Thursday 15 October 2009, 1.00–2.00pm Forestry Lecture Theatre :  Forestry Building 48

Neil Gunningham, Professor, Fenner School of Environment and Society, ANU  “Environment Law, Regulation, Governance: Shifting Architectures”

Abstract :    Environmental law and policy has come a long way since the birth of the US Environmental Protection Agency in 1970, and the launch of the first European environmental policy in 1972. Today law is no longer centre stage but simply one instrument amongst others in the environmental regulator’s toolkit. And talk of regulation may itself be giving way to the broader concept of environmental governance. This talk examines the evolution of environmental law, regulation and governance over almost four decades. It explores the major initiatives of that period and the lessons that can be learned from them, it maps shifting regulatory architectures and explains what has worked and why, and it considers the changing nature of the environmental challenge itself. Finally it seeks to identify which particular architectures are most suited to deal with particular types of environmental problems.

Human Ecology Forum

Friday 16th October, 10am-12pm, Rm 101, Forestry Building

Presenters: Jamie Pittock, Imran Ahmad and Rakhyun Kim "Multi-lateral environment agreements: talk shops or drivers for sustainability?"

"Are the world's multi-lateral environment agreements (MEAs) just resource-wasting talk shops or are they drivers for sustainability? How could they be more effective? Three Fenner PhD students with experiences from different countries and from working with national and international institutions give their perspectives on the state of our MEAs, based on their early PhD research. Rak Kim, Imran Habib and Jamie Pittock will review aspects of  key agreements (UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, Ramsar Convention on Wetlands and Convention on Biological Diversity) and discuss the merits of key reform proposals for international environmental institutions to ease integration, cover gaps and increase efficient implementation. Current proposals include the UN Environment Organization, Intergovernmental Panel or Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), creating a hierarchy of MEAs, and modular approaches to treaty implementation and reporting."

MORNING TEA

Libby Robin, Jack Pezzey and Rob Heinsoln will be hosting this week’s morning tea in the Hancock Building Tea Room

PUBLICATIONS

Harvey Locke and Brendan Mackey (2009) La naturaleza del cambio climático. E S T E P A Í S,  2 2 3: 15-22

Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (2009). Connecting Biodiversity and Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation: Report of the Second Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group on Biodiversity and Climate Change. Montreal, Technical Series No. 41, 126 pages. [Brendan Mackey contributing author]

INFORMATION

Native grassland restoration volunteers wanted: on campus on Thursday 15th October, 12.45 to 3.15 pm.

A reminder that ANU Green is still looking for ~5 volunteers for this Thursday to help hand weed a significant native grassland remnant on campus. Please register with John Fitzgerald: john.fitzgerald@anu.edu.au Volunteers are wanted to help restore an ecologically significant native grassland remnant on campus.  The work will mostly involve weeding.  This is a great opportunity to get to know some of the local flora.  Participation will be limited to 12 volunteers.  Please register with John Fitzgerald by October 8th on john.fitzgerald@anu.edu.au Volunteers should wear sturdy, enclosed footwear and bring a hat and water bottle.  Volunteers should meet at the bus stop outside Old Canberra House (building 73) on Lennox Crossing by 12.45pm.

Saturday 17th October, 9am to 4pm, Fenner School - Friends of Grasslands woodland restoration working bee, Stirling Ridge.

Please let Deb Cleland know if you are willing to lead a weeding team, help set up monitoring points, or run the registration or barbeque, or just volunteer for weeding. Register with Deb Cleland: deborah.cleland@anu.edu.au or 6125 8150 or 0408 283 852.

Upcoming Student Seminars

• 10.00am - 10.30am Wednesday 11 November - Charles Massy - PhD Proposal Seminar 'Change in sustainable agricultural systems: does this result from the enunciation of new discourses by innovators?’
• 11.00am - 11.30am Wednesday 11 November - Carina Wyborn - PhD Proposal Seminar 'Landscape scale restoration and conservation in Australia'

Jessica Weir's Murray River Country - reviews and interviews

Jess Weir's new book based on her PhD undertaken here between 2004-2008 Murray River Country has been beseiged with reviews and interviews - this is a very exciting response to the book from a fine PhD thesis. If you want to contact Jess Weir, her e-mail is: Jess.Weir@aiatsis.gov.au

Radio Adelaide:
http://www.thewire.org.au/daydetail.aspx?SearchDay=2009-09-30#5
 
Review article:
http://www.eurekastreet.com.au/article.aspx?aeid=16796

The Age:
http://www.theage.com.au/environment/plea-for-ecological-dialogue-with-murray-rivers-owners-20090828-f2k0.html
 
Late Night Live:
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/latenightlive/stories/2009/2699908.htm