Mr Brett McDonald
Cities for Climate Protection - Victoria Manager
ICLEI
Brett McDonald works at the Oceania secretariat of ICLEI, an association of some 700 local governments across 60 countries with an interest in sustainability. Brett's focus at ICLEI is their flagship program Cities for Climate Protection(tm), under which local governments seek to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Local governments in Australia have collectively cut some 13 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions; in doing so they have also saved money, reduced water use, air pollution and traffic congestion; and improved community health and well-being. In a voluntary capacity outside of his job, Brett helps community groups in rural Victoria actively respond to climate change.
Brett's interest in the Asia-Pacific began when he travelled to Indonesia after completing high school. Later years saw Brett living and working in Samoa, Thailand and Japan, where he experienced both the heady fast-paced life of Tokyo as well as the quiet simple life of a Hokkaido fishing town. Brett's backpacking and culinary travels have taken him through much of South-East Asia, and he is looking forward to exploring South Asia and the Pacific in the coming years. Brett holds a Master's degree in Environment (Governance, Policy and Communication). In his spare time he enjoys hiking, scuba diving and cycling.