Trevor Swan Distinguished Lecture Series in Economics:
Dr Martin Parkinson, Secretary, Department of Climate Change.
CHARTING THE COURSE TOWARDS A LOW
CARBON ECONOMY
Thursday 27 November, 4.30–6pm
Lecture Theatre, H.C. Coombs Building 8A, Fellows Road, ANU
The presentation focuses on three key questions on climate change:
1. What set of policies are desirable?
2. What are the impacts of policy action?
3. Is global action achievable?
The first question requires the development of a robust national policy framework to ensure a set of policies are in place that deliver abatement and adjustment at least cost to the economy. The second question requires an understanding of the causes, nature, and the scale of the economic impacts to achieve the transition to a low carbon future. The third and final question relates to the political economy of international action, and whether a robust and worthwhile agreement is achievable. The lecture will highlight the contribution of economics to providing a response to these important issues.
Dr Martin Parkinson was appointed as Secretary upon establishment of the Department of Climate Change on 3 December 2007.
His appointment follows six years as Deputy Secretary in Treasury with responsibility for domestic and international macroeconomic issues and as Deputy Secretary of the Climate Change Group in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet with responsibility for leading and coordinating implementation of the emissions trading scheme and coordinating climate change policy.
Dr Parkinson was Australia’s G-20, International Monetary and Financial Committee and Development Committee Deputy and Co-chair of the G-20 Deputies process in 2006. He has also worked at the International Monetary Fund on the reform of international financial architecture. In the early 1990s Dr Parkinson served as Senior Adviser to Treasurer Dawkins and has also worked for Treasurers Kerin and Willis.
He holds a PhD from Princeton University, a M Ec from The Australian National University and a B Ec (Hons) from the University of Adelaide.
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