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Over one million tonnes per year of carbon emissions can be saved by Australia's ‘ Group of Eight ' leading universities, according to a collaborative study.

Representatives from each university met last week at the University of Western Australia to discuss the key steps the group can take to reduce their emissions and unite in mitigating climate change.

Director of UWA Facilities Management, Clint Walker said the group engaged a consultancy to project individual emissions, model reduction targets and analyse potential pathways to meet these targets. The findings were presented at the meeting.

"The Group of Eight is responding to the global challenge of climate change by working together to reduce our carbon emissions. The potential savings are very exciting." Mr Walker said.

Other topics, related to improving environmental and social impacts, were also on the table.

CSIRO Social Scientist, Zoe Leviston shared findings of research into prompting behaviour change in response to climate change.

The group also attended a public lecture by UWA Winthrop Professor Malcolm McCulloch and Federal Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, the Hon. Greg Combet AM, MP . Professor McCulloch talked about climate science and the effect of elevated CO2 levels on marine ecosystems while Mr Combet talked about Australia's carbon pricing scheme and Clean Energy Future.

The Group of Eight is a coalition of leading Australian Universities of which the University of Western Australia is a member.

The forum was hosted by UWA Sustainable Development , within Facilities Management.

Media references

Dr Helen Whitbread (Sustainable Development)  (+61 8)  6488 4776
Michael Sinclair-Jones (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 3229  /  (+61 4) 00 700 783