PRESENTATION - Low Carbon Sea Transport, Intellectual Property and Pacific Island Countries

In 2015, the United Nations Climate Change Conference will be held in Paris to discuss the achievement of a fair, binding and ambitious agreement on climate change. One of the outstanding topics under discussion is intellectual property and climate change. Patent Law plays a critical role in providing incentives for renewable energy, and access to critical inventions for the greater public good. Plant breeders rights impact on intellectual property and food security. Access to genetic resources raises questions about biodiversity and climate change. Trade mark law is significant in terms of green trade marks, eco labels, and greenwashing. Copyright law plays a key part in respect of access to environmental information. The topic of intellectual property and climate change has significant implications for innovation, technology transfer, agriculture, biodiversity, and public health. This conference will consider whether an accord on technology transfer and climate change will be able to be reached at the international climate talks in Paris 2015. The conference will feature keynote addresses by Blair Palese (Co-Founder and CEO, 350.Org), the Hon Kelvin Thomson (the Australian Labor Party), Professor Will Steffen (the Climate Council) and Professor Sharon Friel (Regnet, ANU College of Asia and the Pacific).