Director of the Environmental and Resources Law Institute at Shanghai Jiatong University, Professor Wang Xi will give his presentation at the inaugural Kearney Lecture hosted by Griffith Law School.
Deputy Dean of Research at the Griffith Law School, Professor Jan McDonald, said Professor Wang will share his unique insights into the climate change problem.
“China’s participation in future climate change reduction targets is absolutely critical – Professor Wang will provide a perspective from the world’s economic powerhouse,” Professor McDonald said.
“Australia has often cited China’s large total greenhouse gas emissions as the reason we should not limit our own, but China has ratified the Kyoto Protocol and is actively working to reduce its emissions.
“While its total emissions exceed those of Australia, our per capita emissions are still far greater.”
Professor Wang will outline China’s position on climate change and the Kyoto Protocol in relation to both emissions reduction and how the country is adapting to the predicted effects, such as regular flooding, severe storms, and drought.
Serving as the environmental law expert on projects funded by the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, AusAid, and the World Conservation Union, Professor Wang has also written extensively on international environmental law in China and the Asia-Pacific.
Professor Wang will be in Australia as part of the Socio-Legal Research Centre’s 2007 Visitors Program and will spend three weeks with Griffith University.
The Kearney Lecture is a new initiative of the Griffith Law School and Socio-Legal Research Centre. It recognises Dr John J Kearney, QC for his long-standing promotion of, and support for, legal education on the Gold Coast. The annual public lecture seeks to contribute to public debate on issues of broad interest of social, cultural, political or environmental importance.
The Lecture will be held on Thursday, May 17 in the Drama Theatre (G07), Level 0 at Griffith’s Gold Coast campus on Parklands Drive, Southport from 6pm.
Entry is free and bookings are essential. To make a booking, contact Pamela Adams on 07 3735 3747 or email [email protected]