Every year the Sustainability Learning Community holds an annual debate on an environmental topic at the Manning Clarke Centre. The debate is preceded by a formal dinner for the panellists, students, faculty and staff which gives students the opportunity to engage with professionals in the environmental field and students and staff with similar interests.
The Great Green Debate is a fantastic opportunity to raise awareness on topical environmental issues which affect the Australian National University, the region and the broader Australian community. We are fortunate to have some of the finest intellects in the nation, and in some cases, the world, right here on our doorstep with ANU academics, CSIRO researchers and professionals within the various government departments in Canberra. As a result, there is never a shortage of quality speakers to choose from when organising this event, thanks to the vibrant and evolving community in which we are situated.
Typically, the Great Green Debate has been held on World Environment Day, although some years it is held in second semester to minimise conflict with exam periods and to recognise other significant occasions such as National Water Week.
2015 - What is your sustainability vision for Union Court?
- Ben Gill
President of ANU Students' Association - Professor Libby Robin
ANU Fenner School of Environment and Society - Chris Grange
ANU Executive Director of Administration and Planning - Bart Meehan
ANU Fenner School of Environment and Society, Visiting Fellow - Miriam Adams-Schinminger
ANU Environment Collective and Fenner School of Environment and Society honours student. - Q&A moderated by Professor Peter Kanowski a forester of ANU Fenner School of Environment and Society.
2014 - Does Australia have to choose between the economy and the environment? Is it possible to have a just transition away from fossil fuels?
- Scott Ludlam
Greens Senator for Western Australia - Dan Musil
Earthworker Australia - Jeff Bennett
Professor at the ANU Crawford School of Public Policy and author of Little Green Lie - Robert Costanza
Ecological Economist at the ANU Crawford School of Public Policy - Ishbel Cullen
ANU Environment Collective and 350.org - Jon Altman
Professor at the ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences and former director of the Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research - Chair
Genevieve Jacobs, ABC Radio Canberra
2013 - 80 per cent of fossil fuels must stay in the ground to avoid exceeding 2°C global warming. How should we respond to unburnable carbon?
- John Hewson
Liberal Party of Australia former leader - Matt Grudnoff
The Australian Institute - Simon O'Connor
Responsible Investment Association Australian - Janette Lindesay
ANU Fenner School of Environment and Society - Charlie Wood
350.org - Tom Swann
ANU Master of Climate Change student - Chair
Shane Rattenbury, ACT Greens member for Molonglo
2012 - Should Coal Seam Gas play an important role in Australia's energy future?
- Hugh Saddler
Research Associate, Centre for Climate Economics & Policy, Crawford School of Public Policy ANU and Principal Consultant, Energy Strategies at Pitt & Sherry - Drew Hutton
President of Lock the Gate Alliance - Matt Grudnoff
Senior Economist at The Australia Institute - James Paterson
Director of Communications for the Institute of Public Affairs Australia - John Williams
Adjunct Professor in Public Policy and Environmental Management at the Crawford School of Public Policy at ANU, member of the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists and former commissioner with the NSW Natural Resources Commission - Lyall Howard
NSW Policy Director for the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association - Chair
Jeanette Lyndsay
Associate Director Education & Deputy Director, ANU Fenner School of Environment and Society
2011 - The environment will never be prioritised over material desires
- Dr Emma Aisbett
- Dr Carleton Christensen
- Dr Richard Denniss
- Mr Don Anton
- Mr Shane Rattenbury, MLA
- Dr Michael Eburn
2010 - Water resources in Australia are a fundamental constraint to population growth
- Mr Mark O'Connor
Canberrra poet, author and environmentalist - Ms Catherine Moore
Artist and local government councillor for Palerang Council - Peter Andrews
Stud master, thoroughbred horse breeder and farmer from Bylong in the Upper Hunter Valley and developer of the acclaimed Natural Sequence Farming techniques - Dr Ian Prosser
Science Director, Water for a Healthy Country Flagship - Su Wild-River
Deputy Manager of ANUgreen, Certified Environmental Practitioner - Jenna Roberts
PhD, Environmental Chemistry
2008 - The Role of Business in Shaping a Sustainable Future
- Mr Tom Snow
Executive Director, Canberra International Airport - Dr Royston Gustavson
ANU College of Business and Economics - Mr Ramsay Moodie
Director Corporate Affairs, Fuji Zerox Australia - Mr Graham Tupper
National Liaison Officer, Australian Conservation Foundation - Panel Chair:
Dr Robin Tennant-Wood
Director, Canberra Environment and Sustainability Resource Centre
2007 - Securing Our Water Future: Social Change or Technological Innovation?
- Senator Rachel Siewert
Australian Greens Senator for Western Australia - Professor Quentin Grafton
ANU Crawford School of Economics & Government - Professor Patrick Troy
ANU Fenner School of Environment and Society - Wendy McIntyre
Australian Research Centre for Water in Society (ARCWIS) - Dr Tom Hatton
Director, Water for a Healthy Country Flagship Research Program (CSIRO) - Panel Chair:
Professor Will Steffen
Director, Fenner School of Environment and Society
2006 - That Australia's Response to Global Warming is Sufficient
- Senator Gary Humphries
Senator, Liberal Party - Dr Deb Foskey
ACT Greens MLA - Associate Professor Janette Lindesay
ANU School of Resources, Environment and Society - Professor Jeff Bennett
ANU Crawford School of Economics and Government - Mr Tully Fletcher
ANU Student - Ms Claudia Newman-Martin
ANU Student - Chair: Professor Peter Kanowski
Head, School of Resources, Environment and Society