Industry shutdowns are messy and painful: 4 lessons Australia’s coal sector can learn from car-makers about bowing out

By Vigya Sharma, The University of Queensland and Julia Loginova, The University of Queensland Shifting Australia’s electricity sector to low-carbon technologies and closing coal plants is vital to tackling climate change. But such transitions are easier said than done. People and economies are often deeply connected to the coal industry. Coal plants have often been…

Is there an alternative to 10,000 kilometres of new transmission lines? Yes – but you may not like it

By Magnus Söderberg, Griffith University and Phillip Wild, Griffith University Building transmission lines is often controversial. Farmers who agree to host new lines on their property may be paid, while other community members protest against the visual intrusion. Pushback against new lines has slowed development and forced the government to promise more consultation. It’s not…

Do we want a wind farm outside our window? What Australians think about the net zero transition

By Lucy Richardson, Monash University and Ella Healy, Monash University A paradox lies at the heart of Australian public opinion about climate change. While there is clear general support for substantial government action to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, there is also strong concern about the local impacts of new renewable energy infrastructure. The…

Australian governments must respond to US IRA, attract investment needed for energy shift: Weld Australia

A guaranteed pipeline of work and local content provisions are needed to build the capacity needed for the energy transition, industry body Weld Australia has said. In a statement on Tuesday, the group urged the federal government to deliver a policy framework guaranteeing enough work “for manufacturers to attract the required investment”, and strongly recommending…