A new climate change centre will pave the way for a sustainable future for businesses to make wise decisions when it comes to the environment, according to a panel of experts.
At the launch of the Centre for Climate Risk and Resilience (CCRR) last week UTS Business School said it plans to pursue several vital objectives in alignment with their mission to be socially responsible and foster knowledge for a sustainable and equitable global economy.
These include furnishing business, industry, and government decision-makers with cutting-edge research and leadership concerning the strategic implications of climate change and its associated environmental and societal challenges.
“Businesses have a range of responsibilities other than making profit,” said UTS Business School dean Carl Rhodes. “They have a responsibility to ensure that their operations do not destroy the environment.
“For several years ago, we embarked on a new strategy to be a socially committed business school focused on developing and sharing knowledge for an innovative, profitable and prosperous economy.”
The panel at the centre’s launch also heard from Professor Martina Linnenlucke (inaugural centre Director), Chris Turney (UTS Pro Vice-Chancellor of Research), Kathy Walsh (UTS Business School Associate Dean, Research and Innovation) and John Lydon (UTS Industry Professor), who hosted the event.
The school is also dedicated to fostering collaboration with like-minded partners to spearhead the transition toward sustainability, and are committed to conducting transdisciplinary research in specific areas, intending to build a substantial presence, attracting world-class researchers, and drawing exceptional postgraduate research candidates.
Professor Linnenlucke said climate change has widespread repercussions across various facets of human existence, impacting the economy, infrastructure, human well-being, and the natural environment.
We constantly see reports around flooding or fires. There is a real urgency for us to act.
“A key motivation for me to work in this area is that there is an urgency to act and to contribute to finding solutions that can help business and society to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the impacts of climate change,” she added.
CCRR’s research addresses several critical aspects of combatting climate change. This includes work on adaption and resilience, involving preparation for and recovery from climate-related challenges.
It also encompasses efforts towards decarbonisation, actively reducing pollution generated by industries.
Sustainable finance is another focal point, committed to understanding how financial resources can positively impact the environment.
The research conducted by CCRR employs Climate Analytics to make informed decisions based on climate-related data. Additionally, it actively engages with metrics, targets, and disclosure to measure our progress.
Finally, CCRR’s research evaluates policy impacts and resources, assessing how rules and policies impact society, the economy, and the environment.
“There’s no shortage of news on climate change,” said Professor Linnenlucke. “We constantly see reports around flooding or fires. There is a real urgency for us to act.”
Main photo by Gamya Shastry: John Lydon, Chris Turney, Martina Linnenlucke, Carl Rhodes and Kathy Walsh.
