Voices of the Future
Representing Future Generations and Young People in Climate Change Planning in Tasmania and Beyond
Hobart, Tasmania
27-28 June 2019
Young people and future generations will suffer most from the impacts of climate change. Yet their interests are not reflected in climate change decision-making, planning or law. This situation raises issues of fairness and justice and places the burden of inaction on young people and future generations. There are examples in other countries of institutions that address some of these issues, such as parliamentary commissioners or independent administrative officers whose mandates include consideration of the interests or wellbeing of future generations and young people. More research and public discussion are needed about appropriate climate change institutions and governance models, and particularly about representation of future generations.
Voices of the Future is a series of three events aimed at discussing the best way to represent the interests of future generations and young people in climate change planning in the context of Tasmania, and more broadly. Voices of the Future is centred around a meeting of experts on intergenerational justice and environmental and human rights governance from around the world at the University of Tasmania’s Faculty of Law. This meeting will be preceded by a community forum and a youth workshop aimed at connecting experts in this area with Tasmanians and raising awareness about these issues. Speakers at the Youth workshop and evening forum include Professors Jonathan Boston and Peter Davies. Community representatives will also be involved in a panel in the evening.
Jonathan Boston is Professor of Public Policy in the School of Government at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. He has published widely on a range of matters including public management, social policy, climate change policy, tertiary education policy, and comparative government. He has recently co-authored a report for the NZ Parliament: Foresight, Insight and Oversight: Enhancing Long-Term Governance through Better Parliamentary Scrutiny (Wellington, IGPS, 2019).
Peter Davies was Vice Chair of the UK Sustainable Development Commission in 2006, later becoming Sustainable Futures Commissioner for Wales and chair of the Climate Change Commission for Wales, playing a key role in the development of the 2015 Wellbeing of Future Generations (Wales) Act. Peter was awarded a CBE for his contribution to sustainable development in 2016. He currently chairs the Wales Council for Voluntary Action, and a number of local community and business bodies. He is Community Custodian for River Simple, and Professor of Practice at University of Wales Trinity St David.
Expert Workshop
28 June 2019
(By invitation only)
Community Forum
27 June 2019
6:30-8.30PM
Hobart Town Hall
Facebook event
Youth Workshop
27 June 2019
3.30-5.30 PM
Hobart Town Hall
Facebook event
Expert Workshop
A day-long meeting on 28 June of experts from Tasmania and overseas looking at the experience of different institutions with sustainability or human rights mandates which consider the interests of younger people and future generations and exploring the possible models for Tasmania, and other jurisdictions. This meeting is not open to the public, but we will post a report on this website afterwards.
Public Events
Youth Workshop
Time: 3.30-5.30pm
Date: 27th June 2019
Venue: Hobart Town Hall
Facebook event link
Please note the change of time from that originally advertised-now 3.30-5.30pm.
Want a chance to learn how to represent the interests of young people and future generations in climate change planning in Tasmania and elsewhere? Join us for an afternoon in the Town Hall, where you will learn from experts and engage with other young people to contribute to giving the future a voice.
The event is free, but you need to SIGN UP here (limited spots available!). Stay on for snacks and join the free community forum at 6.30pm.
Can’t make it in the afternoon? Come along at 6.30pm to have your say in our Public forum.
Community Forum
Time: 6:30-8:30pm
Date: 27th June 2019
Venue: Hobart Town Hall
Facebook event link
An opportunity for the community to talk about how best to represent the interests of young people and future generations in climate change planning and other issues.
Hear from experts about how young people and future generations are represented in other countries. Have your say about how we could implement something similar in Tasmania and nationally.
Hobart Town Hall
Conveners, Climate Justice Network
Dr Peter Lawrence researches in the field of climate change, international law and justice. He is author of ‘Justice for Future Generations, Climate Change and International Law’ (2014). Peter is also a baritone whose climate change activist songs can be heard on YouTube.
Jan Linehan is an international lawyer and former international negotiator, who researches on international law, gender, and climate change. She is particularly interested in law reform, community engagement, and the arts in the areas of climate change and human rights.
Organising Committee
Peter Lawrence (Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Law, University of Tasmania)
Jan Linehan (Adjunct Researcher, Faculty of Law, University of Tasmania)