MEDIA RELEASE

May 10, 2010

GreenCollar Think Tank launched to tackle pragmatic ideas on climate change

SYDNEY –The GreenCollar Think Tank (GTT), a non-profit think tank aiming to flush out progressive and pragmatic ideas for dealing with climate change and sustainability challenges, has been launched.

“The GreenCollar Think Tank provides a unique forum in which Australia’s leading business thinkers, scientists, academics, innovators, government and non-government representatives come together for progressive and insightful dialogue,” said GTT Chairman James Schultz.

“We provide a non-partisan platform for the interested public to become actively involved in an open dialogue with field experts,” he added.

GTT’s inaugural online debate tackles issues around Australian carbon policy within a regional context. It features a formal discussion between ecologist Dr Mark Dangerfield from GCS and Dr Malcolm Cook, East Asia program director at the Lowy Institute, but it is open to public comments.

“The question of whether Australia must act now on climate change policy or lose opportunity and competitive advantage to countries like China, South Korea and Japan is critical to explore,” said Cook. “Debates like this must be brought more into the public space, so I am pleased to have this opportunity to engage with a wider audience through the GreenCollar Think Tank.”

The key issued GTT aims to tackle through its quarterly online debates and monthly public talks include agriculture and forestry; green jobs; policy, global and social issues; finance and carbon trading; environmental law; forced migration; social media and green IT; and renewable energy and technology.

“GTT leverages the extensive expertise, applied experience and the passion of our contributors and members” Schultz said. “Together we enable the development and discussion of pragmatic, innovative business solutions to climate change adaptation and mitigation.”

The think tank’s previous public events include talks by field experts on climate adaptation and forced migration as well as forestry and the REDD mechanism.

Media Contact:

James Schultz, Chairman

M: 0422 94 8056

E: thinktank@greencollarthinktank.org