The human influence on global temperatures is now unequivocal. There is accumulating evidence of significant human impacts on key climate indicators including extreme events that are affecting both human and natural systems across the planet. 

Join VfCA Board Director and IPCC Vice Chair Professor Mark Howden to learn about the broad implications of rapid temperature and other key climate indicators on animals and their carers.

 Mark will explore the scientific consequences of increased greenhouse gases, examine net-zero emission targets, and the adaptive responses and underlying processes that are important to  the veterinary profession.

About the Presenter:

A VfCA Board Director since 2022, Professor Mark Howden is Vice Chair of the IPCC, and Director of the Institute for Climate, Energy and Disaster Solutions, Australian National University. He is also an Honorary Professor at Melbourne University, School of Land and Food and Chair of the ACT Climate Change Council. 

Mark’s work has focussed on how climate impacts on, and innovative adaptation options for, systems we value: agriculture and food security, the natural resource base, ecosystems and biodiversity, energy, water and urban systems. He has also developed the national (NGGI) and international (IPCC/OECD) greenhouse gas inventories for the agricultural sector and assessed sustainable methods of reducing net greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture.

Mark has over 390 publications of different types, and has worked on climate variability, climate change, innovation and adoption issues for over 27 years in partnership with farmers, farmer groups, catchment groups, industry bodies, agribusiness, urban utilities and various policy agencies via both research and science-policy roles. 

Mark has been a major contributor to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth and now Sixth Assessment reports and various IPCC Special Reports, sharing the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize with other IPCC participants and Al Gore. Recently Mark sat on the US Federal Advisory Committee for the 3rd National Climate Assessment and he participates in several other international science and policy advisory bodies.

Masterclass Order of Events

7pm AEST - Opening Remarks

7:10pm AEST - Prof Mark Howden's presentation

7:45pm AEST - Q&A with Mark

8pm AEST - Masterclass ends