Bond University is set to announce its new Graduate Certificate in Carbon Management at this week’s first Carbon Market Expo on the Gold Coast.
The Expo, Australia’s first dedicated, industry hosted Trade Fair & Conference, will be held at the Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre 30-31 October, 2008.
Co-hosted by Environment Business Australia, the Asia-Pacific Emissions Trading Forum, the Queensland Government and Gold Coast City Council, the Expo will unite more than 100 speakers and 90 exhibitors representing leading international carbon markets from 24 countries.
Keynote plenary and panel presentations and a series of technical workshops identifying cutting-edge issues in evolving carbon markets and low carbon technologies will be addressed.
As a major sponsor of the Expo, Bond University will represent one of the research and education institutions active in carbon cycle R&D, low emissions technology development, carbon trading compliance and carbon market education.
Assistant Professor of Sustainable Business at Bond University’s Bond Business School, Technology and Sustainable Development, Dr Dell McStay, said climate change was a long-term strategic policy that would ultimately impact on all areas of business operations.
“The Graduate Certificate in Carbon Management, commencing in January, 2009, will focus on the economic, environmental, legal and asset-building performance requirements of the new carbon emissions environment,” she said.
“The services of skilled carbon auditors, brokers and managers will be essential to the on-going global competitiveness of organisations across the broad spectrum of industry, generating excellent opportunities for graduates qualified in this emerging speciality.”
Assistant Professor of Urban Planning at Bond University, Ned Wales, said Bond’s new Mirvac School of Sustainable Development building is also leading the way in sustainability.
“It is the first 6 Star Green Star rated education facility in Australia,” he said.
“It has been designed to not only utilise the triple bottom-line approach, but as a pleasant work environment that has minimal impact on the environment.
“The result is a major reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
“The structure is an excellent example of how the new Gold Coast City Council administrative centre can achieve a carbon neutral status by the mandated target date,” he said.
Whilst on a global scale, Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions are relatively small, on a per capita basis, we rank as one of the three highest greenhouse polluters on the planet.
The Australian Government hopes to turn this around through an ambitious Carbon Management agreement that will challenge relevant businesses in all sectors to reduce emissions by 25% by 2020 and by 90% by 2050.
Mayor Ron Clarke MBE said the Gold Coast City Council has set a target to become carbon-neutral by 2020, and sees events like this as an encouraging sign that we’re not alone in seeking such an outcome.
The Mayor also acknowledged the tertiary education sector’s contribution to the carbon-neutral solution.
“Bond University’s School of Sustainable Development ensures access to cutting-edge research networks and a steady supply of highly skilled graduates, to staff the growing clean-tech and carbon market sector,” Mr Clarke said.
Assistant Professors Dell McStay and Ned Wales said they were both looking forward to promoting the new Graduate Certificate in Carbon Management at this weekend’s Expo.
“Bond University is proud to be a sponsor at the first Carbon Market Expo and we are both looking forward to announcing our new course designed to produce graduates qualified in this emerging speciality,” Dr McStay said.
For more information on Carbon Market Expo Australasia 2008 please contact:
Kylie Jacobson 0419 850 223 [email protected]
Or Alice Edey 0422 288 766 [email protected]