This is the third of a series of interactive events to collect your and other Fabians' thoughts on three issues identified by our members as so important that they are "keeping them awake at night". Each event will be introduced by a prominent figure in the field. The ideas will be collected together as a series of "Letters to Labor" to help inform the policy agenda.

In this event we will be discussing Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability, including the social consequences of climate change and of the disruption created by adaption. We will look at the work of designing a circular economy for Victoria, and will be joined by Rob Gell AM.

A circular economy continually seeks to reduce the environmental impacts of production and consumption and gain more productive use from natural resources.

• Resource use is minimised, and waste and pollution are avoided with good design and efficient practices, reducing environmental impacts while maintaining or increasing the value that people obtain from goods and services. Products are designed so that they are durable and can be readily repaired, reused and recycled at the end of their lives.
• Business models encourage intense and efficient product use, like sharing products between multiple users, or supplying a product as a service that includes maintenance, repair and disposal.
• Innovation aims to increase resource productivity bring a range of benefits including jobs, growth and social inclusion to local, regional and global economies.

Discussion:

• What are the key challenges facing Victoria in achieving a circular economy?
• What steps might be taken now to ensure community engagement and the political will to address these challenges?
• What are the main obstacles or constraints to achieving a circular economy?
• What would it take to ensure a viable and more sustainable lifestyle within Australian society that supports a circular economy?
• What are the implications for government policy in mounting an effective response?

Recommendations:

• Name one policy you believe Labor governments at State and Federal levels should pursue to lay the foundations for a circular economy that ensures a sustainable environment?

The results of this workshop will be fed into the Victorian government’s current policy considerations and action planning to achieve a circular economy that will minimise waste and make the most of resources.

Each event will finish with a request to the audience for 5 or 6 people to form a team to help write up the results as a submission.