Priority Area: Zero Carbon

The planetary life support systems of future generations are being compromised by climate change. Transitioning to a zero-carbon economy and society will help protect the ecological systems that people, plants, animals and cultures depend upon. We need bold actions to ensure this transition. Responding to this need, the Research Themes, in collaboration with the Urban Transformations Research Centre, will bundle their energy and resources throughout 2022 and 2023 to progress work that falls inside the broad Priority Area of Zero Carbon. How research at Western relates to this Priority Area is outlined here for each of our four Research Themes.

Resources

Zero Carbon – Our Shared Responsibility

Zero Carbon (PDF, 3740.7 KB) (opens in a new window) is based on contributions to the multidisciplinary symposium Zero C – Our Shared Responsibility, held at Parramatta in March 2023, featuring some of Australia’s leading Zero C researchers. It provides the latest scientific knowledge and quick access to the complexity of the issues we face when decarbonising human life on earth.

This was the first of a series of three symposia organised by the University's Research Theme Champions. Future events will support the building of partnerships with industry and identifying ways of funding research in this space.

The Zero Carbon Workshops

The Zero Carbon Workshops (PDF, 317.04 KB) (opens in a new window) document is our summary of the outcomes from the second Zero C event held in August 2023. In the second Zero C event, researchers were joined by approximately 50 industry representatives to discuss research priorities under the three areas of community, equity, and industry. One main theme emerged under each area:

• Community focus – The community-enabled renewable energy transition
• Equity focus – Equity for zero C through mutual and reciprocal relationships
• Industry focus – Circular economy for zero C by 2050

There is enormous potential to collaborate on research in these areas, which we explore in the third event.

Education & Work

The education sector has a transformational impact on society and can help the world transition to net zero emissions through its research, teaching and outreach. Schools and Higher Educational Institutions have a critical role to play in the global race to net zero by balancing their own emissions and by researching global solutions, models, and pathways to net zero.

Our theme researchers look at how the education sector can achieve net-zero emissions by transitioning to 100% clean power, behaviour change, technology, tools, and practical plans. The University’s education research on net zero have been crucial for informing and developing policies. Also, WSU has signed the United Nations-led ‘Race to Zero for Universities and Colleges’ pledge, joining institutions worldwide to mobilise climate action and build momentum towards a decarbonised economy.

Building the net-zero workforce is an opportunity to address social goals. Researchers at WSU found that workers of all ages consider it important to play a part in reaching net-zero emissions, and a majority expressed interest in working for organizations that contribute to this goal. Our theme researchers have expertise on, but not limited to, carbon accounting, circular economy, productivity, sustainable enterprises, digital transformation, energy transition, entrepreneurship, and innovation.

Environment & Sustainability

Researchers in this theme already work with industry, non-profit and government partners to achieve a zero carbon economy and society. For example, we investigate the inhibitors to economic and cultural transition from carbon-intensive to zero-carbon economies. We use transition management and social change theory to question the societal value frameworks that inhibit transition and build value systems from the bottom up that are culturally and geographically contextualised. These new value frameworks are better able to envision and justify change that is equitable, inclusive and sustainable.

Researchers in the field of engineering offer new materials and processes that reduce the embedded carbon in our buildings. Many of these materials and processes can be situated within the ‘circular economy’, which draws from knowledge of the way natural ecosystems work to disrupt the concept of waste from our economic system. Novel approaches to converting waste to resource are explored to reduce the fundamental throughput of energy and materials in our economy. Many of our scientists focus on enhancing the resilience of natural systems to climate change. This is not only a mitigation strategy but also aids in reducing emissions by avoiding ecosystem degradation and the destruction of natural ecosystems that sequester carbon.

Health & Wellbeing

Health & Wellbeing researchers have expertise in the study of behaviour and in ways of supporting behaviour change which aligns well with this Priority Area. For instance, we develop and evaluate interventions that aim at increasing physical activity, using active transport, and consuming healthy food. We have measured how living in different environments, like near airports or in masterplanned suburbs impacts health and wellbeing.

Our rigorous study design and methodologies allow us to evaluate the association of CO₂ emissions and CO₂ emission reduction interventions on health and wellbeing. This enables quantifying the impact of introducing new carbon emission policies on health, and the impact of the built environment on CO₂ emissions and health. Effective health communication and community capacity building strategies are other areas of strength within our Theme, particularly in community groups facing health inequities such as Indigenous and culturally and linguistically diverse people. We also have significant experience working across multiple levels of intervention in health policy development and advocacy, to ensure this priority area remains impactful.

Urban Living Futures & Society

The Zero Carbon Priority Area aligns strongly with United Nation Sustainable Development Goals #12 ‘Responsible Consumption and Production’, #11 ‘Sustainable Cities and Communities’, and #9 ‘Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure’, to plan for a world where production and consumption are balanced with a commitment towards a zero carbon future. This transition from petro-capitalism to renewable energy will require economic changes but importantly also societal changes. It will be complex and challenging, but it starts with making safer greener communities through implementing measures such as urban cooling, affordable housing, social justice, smart construction with integrated supply chains, and new materials to develop high tech cities.

Researchers in the Urban Living Futures & Society Theme are ideally positioned to progress and guide the transition of economies and societies with their work. Operating in a holistic fashion, and integrating approaches and insights from engineering, computer science and the social sciences, researchers in this Theme develop and create solutions to current problems to work towards a greener, fairer future for all. Our research capacity spans five clusters: Urban Innovation, Industrial and Digital Revolution, Equitable Societies, Just Transformation, and Digital Societies and Cultural Vibrancy.