Corporate climate transition plans in the Australian superannuation industry
The financial sector is entering a new era in which climate risks and opportunities are no longer a longterm consideration, but a near-term core financial risk and strategic priority. This paper examines how Australian superannuation funds – collectively among the largest institutional investors globally – are evolving their investment and stewardship practices to respond to the transition toward a net zero emissions economy.
17.03.26
Improving renewable energy planning and permitting policy
Australia can realise its renewable energy superpower vision – if it improves how it plans and approves projects. Download the summary paper [PDF 6mb] Robust but timely approval processes are critical to secure renewable energy at scale, while benefiting communities and protecting the environment.
18.12.25
Building a market for Australian green iron: Demand-side incentives for green commodities to supercharge Australia’s renewable energy advantage
Developing a competitive green iron sector can realise economic benefits for Australia and support its neighbours and partners to decarbonise their economies. Download the briefing paper [PDF 3.5mb] Australia has long been a reliable exporter of raw commodities.
12.12.25
Powering Ho Chi Minh City’s future with net zero industrial precincts
Seizing Ho Chi Minh City’s low-carbon economic opportunities with a net zero industrial precinct approach is both an economic imperative and a climate opportunity.
30.10.25
Decarbonisation pathways in Southeast Asia
To understand the modelling landscape in Southeast Asia, Climateworks Centre has undertaken a stocktake of decarbonisation pathways – assessing their ambition, the sectors and technologies they include, and how they compare with national decarbonisation targets. Climateworks also engaged with nine prominent organisations across the region, including modelling groups, think tanks and investors, to gain insights into the challenges and opportunities for strengthening the impact of decarbonisation pathways in raising climate ambition and attracting investment.
14.08.25
Your Future, Your Super Performance test can be future-proofed with climate benchmarking
Australia has a world-leading superannuation industry – with one of the highest retirement savings per capita than any other country. It is a credential Australia will aim to retain now and in the future.
03.07.25
Progress on just energy transitions in Vietnam and Indonesia
An analysis of the first 18 months of JETP implementation in Vietnam and Indonesia Southeast Asia is at a pivotal moment in its journey towards decarbonisation.
07.05.25
Leading climate policies from Australia’s states and territories
Since the Paris Agreement was signed in 2015, countries around the world have increasingly recognised climate change as a shared challenge and begun to implement emissions reduction plans.
12.12.24
Integrating 1.5 degrees Celsius alignment in Your Future Your SuperÂ
Preliminary analysis by Climateworks Centre on the feasibility of including climate benchmarks in Treasury’s Your Future Your Super performance test.
20.09.24
The Land Use Trade-offs model
The Land Use Trade-Offs model v2 (LUTO2) is a world-leading spatial model that maps the best way to use and manage land in Australia to meet climate and biodiversity targets without compromising economic growth and food and water security.
20.09.24
Australia has no need for nuclear on the way to net zero
Climateworks modelling shows Australia can reach net zero emissions before 2040 with technology available today – nuclear is not part of that picture.
29.07.24
Southeast Asia Just Energy Transition Fellowship Program: Reflections from Australia Award Fellows
Climateworks Centre presents the reflections of the Australia Awards Fellows who participated in the Southeast Asia Just Energy Transition Fellowship Program in February-March 2024.
30.05.24
Enabling investment for Vietnam’s energy transition
Vietnam’s rise to middle-income country status has been almost singular in its pace, typified by threefold growth in per-capita GDP over the past twenty years and an 11 per cent decline in the poverty rate in the last decade alone.
23.02.24
Recommendations to accelerate and achieve net zero cities in Australia
Establishing net zero cities is critical to achieving Australia’s climate targets. Net zero cities are defined by the mitigation of emissions from the economic, social and environmental systems that make up cities.
02.02.24
Making energy policy work in Indonesia: Bridging the gap between policy and practice
Indonesia serves as an interesting case study to explore energy transition challenges within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Within ASEAN, Indonesia has the largest territory, greatest potential renewable energy resources, highest Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and highest energy consumption, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).
02.01.24
The supply chain of key decarbonisation technologies in Vietnam
There is now a high level of political momentum towards a net zero emissions development pathway in Vietnam. This is providing a lucrative environment for investment opportunities for green growth through a surge in demand for key decarbonisation technologies.
16.11.23
Fundamentals for developing a long-term renewable energy roadmap for ASEAN
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has a unique opportunity to develop a sustainable energy system based on renewable energy resources.
24.08.23
Energy transitions in Vietnam and Indonesia: Building blocks for successful Just Energy Transition Partnerships
Southeast Asia is a fast-growing region with significant opportunities to accelerate decarbonisation. The recently announced Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETP) in Indonesia and Vietnam demonstrate strengthened commitment to accelerate the low-carbon transition in the region by developing a country-led model that aims to phase out/down unabated coal-fired power generation and cease issuance of coal-fired power plants, while ensuring equitable and inclusive outcomes for vulnerable workers, and communities in coal-dependent regions, consumers and incumbent companies.
19.05.23
Renovation Pathways: Project update and preliminary findings of cost-benefit analysis, April 2023
There are early indications that energy performance upgrades are able to pay for themselves through energy savings.
20.04.23
The role of regenerative agriculture in sustainable land use
Agriculture is a key export industry for Australia, the heart of many rural communities, and a significant source of employment. But covering more than half of Australia’s land mass, agriculture is also the main cause of human-induced land clearing and a driver of land degradation – and accounts for 16 per cent of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions.
30.03.23
Food and land use transitions: Securing a healthy and productive ocean
Producing more ocean-based protein from sustainable fishing and aquaculture is possible but depends upon protection and restoration of marine and estuarine ecosystems.
02.12.20
Food and land use transitions: Prioritising diversity and inclusion
Meaningfully contributing to overcoming systemic diversity and inclusion challenges in food and land use should be prioritised within each transition. Read about how Australia is progressing towards this transition.
20.08.20
Food and land use transitions: Promoting healthy diets
A shift towards more plant-rich diets could meet human health and nutritional needs while minimising environmental impacts. Read about how Australia is progressing towards this transition.
13.08.20
Food and land use transitions: Diversifying sources of protein
Expanding the range of protein sources could provide health benefits, free up land and water for other uses, and cut methane and greenhouse gas emissions, while opening up new economic opportunities.
13.08.20
Food and land use transitions: Building local loops and linkages
Circular local food economies can reduce environmental impacts, build resilience and improve security of fresh food by shortening supply chains and repurposing urban waste streams.
06.08.20
Food and land use transitions: Harnessing the digital revolution
Digital technologies and big data can support each of the other transitions through improved supply chain transparency and alignment to economic, social and environmental objectives.
06.08.20
Food and land use transitions: Reducing food loss and waste
Efficiency and optimisation, redistribution of excess food and repurposing of unavoidable food waste can reduce pressure on the climate, water and land resources, while delivering economic benefits.
06.08.20
Food and land use transitions: Strengthening and diversifying rural and regional livelihoods
Each transition must support stronger, more diverse and more resilient rural and regional livelihoods Read about how Australia is progressing towards this transition.
30.07.20
Food and land use transitions: Scaling productive and regenerative agriculture
Changing farming practices and technologies can improve profitability and resilience while reducing and reversing climate, environmental and other impacts. Read about how Australia is progressing towards this transition.
30.07.20
Food and land use transitions: Protecting and restoring nature
It is possible to both produce affordable, nutritious food and fibre while protecting and rehabilitating the ecosystems that underpin human health, livelihoods, food security and wellbeing.
30.07.20
Moving to zero
Australia’s first comprehensive guide to reaching zero emissions in the transport sector. Moving to zero: Accelerating the transition to zero-emissions transport is Australia’s first comprehensive guide to reaching zero emissions in the transportation sector.
05.06.20
Issues paper: Reshaping Infrastructure for a net zero emissions future
Infrastructure has a significant, lasting influence on Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions. Around 70% of Australia’s emissions are associated with infrastructure projects, according to the issues paper published in partnership by the Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia (ISCA), Climateworks Australia and the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC).
04.03.20
Low carbon opportunities for Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam
The global economy is transitioning towards cleaner and less carbon-intensive forms of growth. Southeast Asia could be at the forefront of this emerging ‘green race.’ How can Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam take advantage of growing low-carbon markets?
23.07.19
Taking the long view
Strong economic growth can be achieved without increasing emissions. A long term approach to avoiding emissions growth is essential to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
03.11.17
Building code energy performance trajectory project – issues paper
Energy requirements for new construction in building codes are key to reaching energy and emissions goals. In 2017 Climateworks Australia partnered with the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC) to develop an industry-led pathway for energy requirements within the National Construction Code (NCC).
19.07.17
Plug and play: Facilitating grid connection of low emissions technologies – Consultation summary paper
A major transformation in the structure of Australia’s electricity sector is taking shape. Australia must do its fair share in the global effort against climate change.
28.02.17
Towards fuel efficient, lower emissions light vehicles – response summary
A response summary to the 2015 issues paper considering a range of complementary measures that could be implemented in support of light vehicle CO2 emission standards, to help drive improvement in fuel economy across Australia’s light vehicle fleet.