PROMINENT BUSINESS and community leader Carol Schwartz (AO), has been appointed as the new Chair of the Climate Council.
Together with Amanda McKenzie, one of Australia’s most experienced and longest serving climate CEOs, Ms Schwartz’s appointment will propel the Climate Council into a brave new era of climate advocacy.
Climate Council CEO Amanda McKenzie said: “The Climate Council has been at the forefront of pushing for climate solutions and educating the public on climate science for a decade.
“Carol joins us at an exciting time. We are growing bigger and more ambitious with every passing year and together, we will build on the vast expertise and momentum of the last decade and really ramp up our advocacy for strong and effective federal, state and territory policies on climate change.
“Our ultimate aim is to get emissions plummeting in the crucial ‘make or break’ 2020s and to position Australia as a true global leader on climate action.
“Carol brings exceptional experience as a business leader who is incredibly passionate about finding solutions to the climate crisis. Our plan to tackle the climate crisis has all the right ingredients to transform Australia’s future by putting us on a swift path to net-zero emissions.”
Under Ms Schwartz’s leadership, the Climate Council will intensify its efforts to:
- Push for Australia to become a renewable energy superpower. We have the technology, the expertise, and the resources – but we have to act quickly to take hold of these opportunities.
- Keep influential voices and human stories at the forefront of the climate conversation to change the narrative; and
- Build long term support for solutions on all sides of politics, with a wider range of expert Climate Councillors who can strongly influence critical policy decisions and update all Australians on the science.
Ms McKenzie added: “We’re really excited about the expertise and commitment Carol brings and the connections and opportunities she can unlock.”
Carol Schwartz, AO, said: “My role is to keep supporting the fabulous work underway, and for us to collectively harness the shifts in government policy to ensure rapid and meaningful results. I am optimistic about the role Australia can play in leading the world in climate tech innovation and offering solutions that will really shift the dial towards net zero.”
for more information on 10 climate gamechangers to get emissions plummeting this decade, visit the Climate Council’s PowerUp website.
About Carol Schwartz (AO)
Carol is an Officer of the Order of Australia. She has been named as one of Australia’s most influential women in the Australian Financial Review and Westpac’s Inaugural 100 Women of Influence Awards and inducted into the Victorian Women’s Honour Roll. In November 2020 Carol was recognised with the nation’s highest philanthropic honour, the ‘Leading Philanthropist’ Award by Philanthropy Australia. Carol’s current board roles include the Reserve Bank of Australia, EQT Holdings Limited, the Climate Council and Trawalla Group.
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The Climate Council is Australia’s leading community-funded climate change communications organisation. We provide authoritative, expert and evidence-based advice on climate change to journalists, policymakers, and the wider Australian community.
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