Renowned climate scientist, Dr Joelle Gergis, will give a presentation, ‘Highway to Hell: Are We Stuck in a Climate Action Cul-de-sac?’ on October 23 from 6pm at the Brunswick Picture House.
Dr Gergis was a lead author of the IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report and The Quarterly Essay ‘Highway to Hell’.
Dr Gergis asks, ‘How many disasters does it take to wake people up to the fact that Australia’s climate is becoming more extreme, with today’s destruction set to be dwarfed by things to come?’
Event host Chels Hood Withey, founder of House You said that, ‘The climate crisis isn’t just about rising temperatures—it’s about homes being swallowed by the sea, communities displaced by disasters, and the cost of living skyrocketing beyond reach. We have the solutions; we just need to implement them. This event is about translating knowledge into immediate action.’
Expert discussion
Following Dr Gergis‘s presentation, a panel of local experts and advocates will discuss practical solutions and community-driven initiatives:
- Isabelle Reinecke, Founder of Grata Fund
- Mandy Nolan, Greens Candidate for Richmond
- Michelle Lowe, Strike 4 Climate and school teacher
- Royce Kurmelovs, Journalist and author of Slick: Australia’s Toxic Relationship with Big Oil
- Monet Shortland, Young Climate Leader with Ocean Voices
Key discussion points include:
- Ending new coal and gas projects
- Transitioning to 100 per cent renewable energy
- Creating sustainable local jobs
- Tackling climate, housing, and cost-of-living crises through integrated solutions
- Holding governments and corporations accountable
- Changing the climate story from despair to possibility
‘Action is the antidote to despair. This urgent gathering provides multiple avenues for immediate involvement. From housing insecurity to extreme weather events, our community is on the front lines. This event is about turning anxiety into action, despair into determination,’ said Hood Withey.
For more info visit brunswickpicturehouse.com.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
