We can’t save the climate by destroying nature

The Sydney Environment Institute is pleased to announce its new panel series, Climate and Biodiversity Crises Series, aiming to address the interconnected challenges of climate change and nature damage.

The biodiversity crisis is intricately linked to the climate crisis, and efforts to mitigate climate change must not harm nature in the process. In fact, repairing nature is a critical way of mitigating climate change. The panel series features experts from academia, government, business, and community, to explore how policies, business decision-making, and adaptation strategies can address both crises simultaneously.

The series will feature four panels throughout the year, with the inaugural panel, We can’t save the climate by destroying nature, being held during Climate Action Week (May 2024) in partnership with the Australian Conservation Foundation.

Although the climate and biodiversity crises are fundamentally connected, they have been primarily addressed independently. A more integrated global approach is essential to tackle these two global challenges. The opening panel of the Sydney Environment Institute’s Climate and Biodiversity Crises Series will explore the broader planetary crisis and the interconnections between the climate and biodiversity crises.

The panel will be chaired by Acting SEI Director, Professor Danielle Celermajer, and feature guest speakers Basha Stasak, Nature Campaign Manager at the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF), Dr Mitchell Gibbs, an expert on restoring biodiversity using First Nations knowledge, and Guy Williams, Executive Director at Pollination Group working on nature positive solutions.

SEI invites audiences to participate in these crucial conversations and contribute to shaping a thriving future for our planet. Make sure to subscribe to our newsletter as more information about the upcoming panels are released.