The University of New South Wales in Sydney has launched a new institute designed to harness expertise across faculties to support government and industry to achieve net zero.
The UNSW Institute for Industrial Decarbonisation will unite capability across the university’s seven institutes and 30-plus centres focused on decarbonisation, and drive initiatives with industry and government in this space.
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‘UNSW is launching the Institute for Industrial Decarbonisation to bring together transdisciplinary capability across faculties and specialties. Engineering, science, business, legal, planning and design disciplines all have a contribution to make as we work with companies to chart viable pathways for positive societal impact, both locally and globally,’ said UNSW vice-chancellor and president Professor Attila Brungs.
‘Decarbonisation goes hand in hand with economic development opportunities for Australia and allies across the ASEAN region,’ said UNSW IID chief executive officer David Eyre. ‘The Australian government is linking emissions reduction to opportunities for green industry development, with its Future Made in Australia initiative. We have the raw materials – the copper, iron ore and rare earth minerals – needed by a high-tech, low-carbon economy, and we can produce renewable energy at industrial scale to power a green industry. But it will a take massive, well-coordinated effort across all sectors, including universities.
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‘With strategic investment in green versions of heavy industry, we can increase Australia’s self-sufficiency for critical materials, like metals, plastics, fertiliser, industrial chemicals and cements,’ he continued. ‘And if we get the infrastructure and economics right, we can build new export revenue around certified green products.’
UNSW is also working to develop more sustainable ways to plan, design and construct buildings, cities and infrastructure. Decarbonising needs to be a collaborative approach across professional disciplines and all sectors of the economy, Eyre said. ‘At this critical juncture, cross-disciplinary thinking and a partnership approach between business, universities and government are the key to realising the greatest societal impact.’