Climateworks Centre

Congratulations to David Shankey on his appointment as CEO of the Net Zero Economy Authority. The Authority will be pivotal in accelerating action reducing emissions at scale and ensuring Australia’s regions, industries, communities and workers are supported in the shift to a low-carbon economy.

This week the federal government tasked an expert panel with making Australia's largest grid fit for purpose. 'Getting this right is important... 'Our research shows Australia’s energy grid needs to be double the size of what’s currently planned if we’re to expand industries that run on clean energy and start exporting renewable energy and products. 'Such expansion would help Australia thrive in a net zero world.' In this piece for The Conversation Australia + NZ, Anna Skarbek and Matthew Benetti recommend the panel expand its review to three key areas, allowing it to 'fully consider how best to align the national energy system with Australia’s renewable energy and climate ambitions'.

Discussions about Australia’s climate transition often focus on the federal government, but states and territories also play a significant role in support of national and international goals. Lani Perlesz and Matt Lyon, co-authors of a forthcoming Climateworks Centre report analysing Australian subnational climate policies and programs, explore some shared opportunities for all state and territory governments.

Transport is Australia’s third-largest and fastest-growing source of emissions. Australia can bolster transport decarbonisation by expanding its approach to include a suite of solutions across freight and passenger transport, including: • Avoiding the need for some travel and making car and truck trips shorter and more efficient.  • Shifting to lower-emissions modes of transport, such as travelling by train instead of plane, using more active and public transport, and shifting freight by rail. • Improving vehicle and fuel efficiency, for example, getting more zero-emissions vehicles – like battery electric vehicles or hydrogen fuel cell vehicles – on the road and using lower carbon liquid fuels. Read more in our report on decarbonising Australia’s transport sector: https://lnkd.in/gnfWQVQW World Sustainable Transport Day

'What has been agreed is some progress and there is now funding to work with – and it's clear that the developing nations will maintain a very strong call that this be increased rapidly in the future.' – Climateworks Centre CEO Anna Skarbek talks to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) about COP29 Azerbaijan. Watch the full interview: https://lnkd.in/g7hUVuCh

Translating the 'new normal of net zero' into #energygrid economic regulation and planning was the main thread of my plenary speech at the Melbourne Energy Institute Symposium 24 this morning. Matching the ambition of Australia's ‘renewable superpower’ green exports potential with the tools that drive investment is the opportunity in the upcoming Electricity & Energy Sector Plan. That is no small feat, but it is doable. I outlined five amendments to energy governance that Australia can make to align its energy system transformation with its net zero and renewable energy goals. Thanks for the invitation Michael Brear and for the speech writing & research Matthew Benetti; looking forward to sharing the details in due course

'Seventy-one per cent can act as a floor for Australia’s ambition, not a ceiling.' – Sustainable Economies Lead Kylie Turner speaking to The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald's Bianca Hall and Nick O'Malley, who write: 'Analysis by independent not-for-profit Climateworks Centre shows that states and territories’ combined emissions reduction targets already add up to a 66-71 per cent reduction in Australia’s emissions from 2005 levels by 2035.'

Indonesia is one of the most important countries for ocean-based climate mitigation 🌊 Climateworks Centre conducted research and engaged with stakeholders in Indonesia to identify three ways the country could deliver more ambitious and measurable ocean-based climate action in the next decade. #COP29 #Oceans #BlueCarbon

I'll be giving this plenary keynote in Melbourne this Friday on Matching Ambition By Design: Aligning the Energy System with Renewable Superpower Expectations - tickets are free if you want to come along. Thanks Melbourne Energy Institute for the invitation and my Climateworks Centre colleagues including Matthew Benetti for the preparation!

A just energy transition is about bringing everyone along as renewable energy replaces fossil fuels, and low-carbon industries replace carbon-intensive ones, writes Climateworks Centre's Ceren Ayas, PhD for Monash University Lens.