Wild weather, lost land and persistent pollutants

Sydney Ideas is thrilled to welcome renowned environmental scientist, Professor Emma Johnston AO, the co-chief author of the 2021 Australian State of Environment Report and the University’s Deputy Vice Chancellor Research. Professor Johnston will be joined by her co-authors to discuss key findings of the report and what is in store for our environment and wellbeing.

The extreme weather events from the past few years have shown that our future depends on healthy rivers, forests, soils and seas, which is why it is crucial to understand exactly what is at stake. The State of the Environment (SOE) report, a five-yearly independent review, commissioned by the Australian Government, is a critical piece in the puzzle. Its independent analysis from a team of scientific experts, offers a clear framework on how to address the myriad environmental issues we face and the projected future of our environment. 

Professor Johnston is one of Australia’s most distinguished environmental scientists, an elected fellow of both the Australian Academy of Science (AAS) and the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering (ATSE). She also co-hosts the television series, Coast Australia, exploring the country's coastline.

Also joining the conversation will be SOE co-authors Dr Terri Janke, a Wuthathi/Meriam woman and an international authority on Indigenous cultural and intellectual property; and the chair of the Western Australian Biodiversity Science Institute, leading environmental scientist, Dr Ian Cresswell. 

The 2021 SOE report is the first to include Indigenous co-authors and is the first to have a chapter explicitly focused on Extreme Events (bushfires, floods, heatwaves, droughts, storms).

Event details

The speakers

• Professor Emma Johnston, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) at University of Sydney
• Dr Terri Janke, Solicitor and Director of Terri Janke and Company
• Dr Ian Cresswell, Western Australian Biodiversity Science Institute