Environmental challenges for Oceania

A leading Australian environmental scientist, Professor Brendan Mackey, says Australia and Pacific islands will face similar environmental challenges in the coming decades.

Brendan Mackey, a professor of environmental science at the Australian National University, will deliver the first keynote address at the Innovative Solutions for Environmental Challenges (ISEC) 2011 conference being held at Southern Cross University in Lismore on June 8 and 9. Professor Mackey is also a member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Earth Charter International Council.

“Climate change, loss of biodiversity, and water security present urgent issues for all of Oceania,” Professor Mackey said.

“The research community can better help Australian society and our neighbours by identifying environmental research priorities and forging a shared research agenda along the lines that has been done internationally for global change research.”

Professor Mackey said agreeing on environmental research priorities for Oceania would maximise the use of scarce resources, avoid duplication, fill gaps, and promote collaboration and capacity building in the region.

“We are excited to have Professor Mackey address our conference,” Southern Cross Environmental Innovations director Professor Bill Boyd said.

“He has addressed many international events including the World Climate Conference and the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference and we are looking forward to hearing Brendan’s perspective on applied environmental and biodiversity conservation research priorities for Australia and Oceania at ISEC 2011.”

For more information on ISEC 2011 contact Dr Kristin den Exter on 0414223139. Further keynotes will be announced in the coming weeks.

Photo: Brendan Mackey, a professor of environmental science at the Australian National University, will deliver the first keynote address at the Innovative Solutions for Environmental Challenges (ISEC) 2011 conference.