A letter from our executive director
Dear Friends of The Australia Institute —
As you may know from their announcement back in March, the Climate Institute will be closing its doors on 30 June.
First and foremost, we wanted to share our congratulations to the Climate Institute for everything they have achieved over their last 12 years.
But we also wanted to share with you some joint news from Chair of the Climate Institute board, Mark Wootton, and Chair of our board, John McKinnon —
From Mark Wootton, Chair of the Climate Institute board —
“I am pleased to announce that, following the closure of the Climate Institute on 30 June, its significant remaining funds and intellectual property will be transferred to The Australia Institute, to help carry forward The Australia Institute’s climate change-related research and advocacy.
“The Climate Institute selected The Australia Institute from a short-list of strong candidates. The Australia Institute shares our commitment to relevant, robust research, innovative communication and well-targeted advocacy. We are delighted that we can pass on our legacy to an organisation with such a strong commitment to societal and economic leadership.”
From John McKinnon, Chair of The Australia Institute board —
“The Climate Institute has been a key player in the climate policy debate in Australia for over a decade. The Australia Institute is privileged to have been selected to help take forward its legacy.
“This will allow a consolidation and expansion of The Australia Institute’s own research into energy, including our work on fossil fuels and renewable energy policy.”
We at The Australia Institute are honoured to be selected to take on the vital work pursued for more than a decade by the Climate Institute, and pleased to announce that we will be using this opportunity to establish a specialist Climate & Energy Program that will allow us to carry forward The Climate Institute’s highly regarded work.
Establishing a Climate and Energy Program within the Australia Institute will secure the ongoing legacy of the Climate Institute efficiently and effectively. Our recently launched National Energy Emissions Audit with Hugh Saddler will now be housed under this new Climate and Energy Program within the Institute.
We thank the Climate Institute for the opportunity to carry their legacy forward. And we look forward to building on The Australia Institute’s existing body of research in the climate and energy space. It was The Australia Institute that first revealed — back in 1994 — that Australia had the highest per capita greenhouse gas emissions, we played an integral role in securing the future of ARENA and CEFC working with key crossbenchers to save these agencies from repeal, and in 2015 we established the No New Coal Mines initiative and brought then-President of Kiribati, His Excellency Anote Tong, to Australia on the cusp of Paris COP21.
And finally, we want to work with you — our supporters — on our new endeavours. We will be in touch again soon about how you can be further involved to support our new work. We would very much appreciate your ideas and feedback.
— Ben Oquist
Executive Director
The Australia Institute
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