UNSW Institute for Climate Risk & Response

What does a Trump presidency mean for global climate action? Dr Wesley Morgan, Research Associate at the UNSW Institute for Climate Risk & Response, says there are reasons for optimism despite potential challenges. With China leading global production in EVs, batteries, wind turbines, and solar panels, Dr Morgan says the US could feel internal pressure to stay competitive with this rapidly advancing nation. "Part of the rationale for the US spending all this money on clean energy industries is to compete with China for tomorrow's economy. And Republicans are generally supportive of that and concerned about losing a technological edge to China," he explains in a recent article. He says that even if Trump slows the clean energy transition, other countries—particularly China, India, and Australia—will continue to capitalise on the booming renewable energy sector. "Trump withdrew from the Paris Climate Agreement during his last term, but what’s fascinating is that no other country followed suit," he explains. In contrast, in 2000, when President George W. Bush declined to join the Kyoto Protocol, Australia made the same choice under Prime Minister John Howard. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gNwn_w7W

🔥 Australia has already warmed by 1.51°C. Last week’s State of the Climate 2024 report from the Bureau of Meteorology and CSIRO confirmed we are facing more extreme heat, longer fire seasons, and rising sea levels. In the latest episode of Leave It To The Experts, a podcast produced by 360info, Ben Newell, Director of the UNSW Institute for Climate Risk & Response and Professor of behavioural science at UNSW Science, weighs in on some of the solutions to the climate crisis — for governments, big corporates, and individuals. Also featured in this episode: Dr Jaclyn Brown GAICD, Research Director at CSIRO’s Climate Science Centre; Nerilie Abram, Professor in climate science at The Australian National University and Deputy Director at The ARC Centre of Excellence for 21st Century Weather and the ARC Australian Centre for Excellence in Antarctic Science; and Dr Lucy Richardson, Deputy Director at Monash University’s Climate Change Communication Research Hub. Together, they explain how income stress, media shifts, and psychological responses shape our climate action (or lack thereof) and what we can do about it. 🎧 Listen to the full episode here: https://lnkd.in/gQbnAe3q

We are pleased to announce that UNSW Law & Justice Professor Cameron Holley, from the School of Law, Society & Criminology, has been appointed Deputy Director of the UNSW Institute for Climate Risk & Response 🎉 A Professor of environmental law and a specialist in the regulation and governance of environmental risks, Prof. Holley brings deep expertise in areas critical to our mission of addressing global climate challenges. We’d also like to express our gratitude to Associate Professor Scott Donald, who has been an exceptional Deputy Director since ICRR’s launch. While A/Prof. Donald is stepping down from this role, we’re fortunate that he will remain with us as a Chief Investigator, continuing to lend his expertise to the institute. Please join us in thanking A/Prof. Donald for his leadership and welcoming Prof. Holley to the ICRR team!

📢 New publication alert! Do vegetarians experience internal conflict when exposed to information on the environmental, animal welfare, and health impacts of dairy? While many people are familiar with the ‘meat paradox’ – the psychological discomfort that arises when individuals value the environment and animal welfare but still consume meat – a new study has found that a similar conflict may exist for vegetarians regarding dairy. A new paper, co-authored by Chelsea Davies from The Australian National University and Samantha Stanley from the UNSW Institute for Climate Risk & Response, shows vegetarians who were presented with information about the impacts of dairy felt significantly more conflicted than a control group. Instead of justifying dairy as "natural, necessary, or normal," the participants questioned their beliefs, and many expressed a stronger intent to reduce their intake, showing an openness to aligning their actions with their values. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/dQQJyhQC

Australia's fossil fuel exports rank second only to Russia in terms of climate damage. A recent report by the UNSW Australian Human Rights Institute revealed that Australia is responsible for around 4.5% of global fossil carbon dioxide emissions. Without more ambitious climate policy, Australia’s coal and gas exports are expected to remain at current levels until at least 2035. Last week, the UNSW Institute for Climate Risk & Response (ICRR) teamed up with the UNSW Australian Human Rights Institute (AHRI) to host a thought-provoking workshop, 'The companies we keep: Australia’s fossil fuel exporters, climate impacts, and next steps.' The workshop, led by UNSW Science Professor Ben Newell, ICRR Director, and Gillian Moon, Lead for the Australian Climate Accountability Project at AHRI, explored the responsibilities of Australia’s fossil fuel exporters in the context of both climate change and human rights. The discussions highlighted the urgent need to address climate risks, foster corporate accountability, and outline concrete steps toward a more sustainable future. A huge thank you to all the experts and participants who contributed their insights! ICRR Research Associate Dr Wesley Morgan is working closely on the Australian Climate Accountability Project alongside Gillian Moon and climate experts from Climate Analytics. To stay up to date, join our community here: https://lnkd.in/gxYuqkTt Ben Newell, Wesley Morgan, Gillian Moon, UNSW Law & Justice, Nerilie Abram, Martijn Boersma, Sophia Ferguson (Giardini), Maria Nawaz, Nathan Kennedy, Holly Creenaune, Elizabeth M., Julia Dehm, Alana B., Ella Vines, Sarah Denman, Samuel Pryde

Congratulations to the early career researchers who presented their work at our ECR workshop last week! Your presentations showcased exceptional research, and we are thrilled to celebrate the winners: 🏆 1st Place for Best Presentation (PhD Student): Matt Grant – Understanding Past Changes in Australian Droughts 🎖️ Runner-up for Best Presentation (PhD Student): Arash Taheri – The Short-Run Impact of Wind and Solar on Prices and Conventional Plant Revenues: A Case Study of Australia's National Electricity Market 🏆 1st Place for Best Presentation (ECR): Nanak Narulla and Dr. Arjuna Dibley – Turning on Their Own: State Responses to Mounting Corporate Climate Change Litigation Risk 🎖️ Runner-up for Best Presentation (ECR): Dr Omid Ghasemi – The Trust Gap Between Climate Scientists and General Scientists Across 68 Countries ⚡ 1st Place Lightning Presentation: Camille Justine Mora – Distributing Impacts to Advance Climate Justice ⚡ Runner-up Lightning Presentation: Jamie Lee – Communicating Uncertainty About Climate Change Solutions A big thank you to everyone who presented on the day. We were truly impressed by the calibre and quality of your research! A special thank you to Jonathan Morris for his opening address and to our panellists, Tim Raupach and Samantha Stanley from the UNSW Institute for Climate Risk & Response, Xuan (Ada) Zhou from the Reserve Bank of Australia, and Zoey Isherwood, PhD from Commonwealth Bank, for discussing career pathways in climate research post-PhD. The panel was expertly moderated by the Institute's Tanya Fiedler, who did a fantastic job drawing out and highlighting each speaker's insights. Read more about the workshop and the winners here: https://lnkd.in/g3x6SQPx

It was inspiring to see so many people come along to our industry forum last week. The audience was engaged and the discussions highlighted the interdisciplinary commitment to addressing the real risks and opportunities that climate change presents. Special thanks to our sponsors for the event Aon, QBE Insurance, and Altius Asset Management and to our keynote speaker The Hon. Matt Kean who set exactly the right tone for the day with his opening address.

Thank you to everyone who joined us at the inaugural UNSW Institute for Climate Risk & Response Industry Forum! The event attracted over 150 participants from business, government, and a range of community organisations and academics.   The Hon. Matt Kean, Chair of the Climate Change Authority and former NSW Treasurer, delivered a powerful opening speech. He warned, “There’s no time to waste” on climate action and emphasised the severe and tangible costs and the urgent need to invest in climate solutions now, not later. Mr Kean's speech highlighted the importance of renewable energy as the most affordable path to decarbonisation, and the need to create policies that attract private capital because “climate risk is an investment risk.” He said Australia shouldn’t simply aim for climate “sufficiency”. We should aim to become a clean energy superpower.   A special thank you to UNSW Professor Verity Firth for opening the day and to all of our incredible speakers, moderators, and panellists: Ben Newell, David Grant, Bill Bovingdon, Kristle Romero Cortes, David Jenkins, Grace Tam, Michael Grose, Sarah McCarthy, Andrew Pitman, AO, FAA, Rebekah Morgan, Tanya Fiedler, Joanna Aldridge, Thomas Mortlock, Sharanjit Paddam, Tim Raupach, Jacqueline Peel, Wesley Morgan, Jillian Broadbent AC. Each of you is contributing to our mission to empower businesses, governments, and society to address the risks and opportunities presented by climate change. The turnout blew us away, and we can’t wait to see you at future events! UNSW Science Sven Rogge UNSW Business School Frederik Anseel UNSW Law & Justice Cameron Holley

🌏 Australia has a unique opportunity to lead on climate action, and we must seize it, says UNSW Institute for Climate Risk & Response Director Ben Newell. Next month, Australia, in partnership with Pacific Island nations, is set to be named host of the 2026 United Nations climate summit. With just two years to shape an ambitious agenda addressing the risks and opportunities of climate change, we need to act now. "Hosting the world’s climate talks is a unique opportunity for Australia to shine as a climate leader. Realising this potential requires us all to be on a shared pathway – government, industry, and society. Universities can help ensure we maximise our moment in the international climate spotlight," he says. Today, the UNSW Institute for Climate Risk & Response is holding an Industry Forum that embodies this collaborative approach, showcasing the power of working together towards a positive climate future. Read Ben’s full opinion piece here: https://lnkd.in/gFp59d-X Stay tuned for more updates!

Reminder: This is your last chance to register for the UNSW Institute for Climate Risk & Response Conference! Don’t miss your opportunity to engage with leading experts in climate risk and response. The Industry Forum this Thursday features an amazing lineup of speakers. Details below 👇 We hope to see you there!