Climate Action & Sustainability

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We focus on initiatives that improve livelihoods while ensuring natural resources are protected for future generations.

The environmental dimensions of sustainable development focus on approaches to smooth transitions to clean energy futures, reverse biodiversity declines, ensure food security and deliver justice between nations and generations. 

UNSW hosts over 700 academic staff undertaking research in climate change science, impacts, adaptation, mitigation, solutions, and policy across more than 30 Centres and Institutes, spanning 6 Faculties and over 40 schools. This includes foundational climate science as well as research into the impacts of climate change on security, law, policy, health, ecosystems, tourism, biodiversity, the built environment, coastal infrastructure, energy, decarbonisation, and water management.

In 2022, UNSW was recognised by Nature as the highest-ranking institute in physical sciences in Australia and 31st internationally for earth and environmental sciences. UNSW has unparalleled breadth and depth of research capabilities in climate research to support both government and industry in navigating the complex interactions between climate risk, impacts, adaptation, and solutions. UNSW is the national lead in its capabilities in climate change and climate-related research.

Notable Research Highlights and Facilities

Centre for Ecosystem Science

The CES is a unique unit within UNSW, with excellent researchers in ecosystem science and a diverse range of scientific expertise in terrestrial ecology (arid zones, forests), wetlands, marine ecosystems, GIS (geographic information systems), remote sensing and the use of conservation tools.

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Centre for Sustainable Materials Research and Technology

UNSW also hosts the SMaRT Centre, the ARC Microrecycling Research Hub and the Australian government's new National Environmental Science Program's Sustainable Communities and Waste Hub.

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Climate Change Research Centre

The UNSW Climate Change Research Centre hosts the ARC Centre of Excellence in Climate Extremes (CLEX), and previously the ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate System Science (ARCCSS). It is Australia's largest centre focused on the physical and biophysical aspects of climate change, spanning atmospheric, oceanic, ice, and land-climate processes.

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Decarbonisation Hub

The Decarbonisation Hub hosted by UNSW Sydney is a key part of the NSW Government's Net Zero Industry and Innovation Program, bringing together government, industry, and researchers to fast-track technologies to decarbonise NSW and beyond.

 

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Global Ocean Accounts Partnership

UNSW hosts the GOAP Secretariat. GOAP is a global partnership established to bring together governments, international organisations, and research institutions to build a global community of practice for ocean accounting.

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The Andrew & Renata Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law

Each year, many more people are displaced by the impacts of disasters and climate change than by conflict and persecution. The UNSW Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law was commissioned to draft the Pacific Regional Framework on Climate Mobility – a world-first protocol that is currently being deliberated by Pacific Leaders.

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Resilient Futures Collective

The UNSW Resilient Futures Collective was established in response to increasing cyclone, flood, drought, and bushfire hazards, to operate through a wide lens of disaster risk reduction and resilience, to address the emergent needs of communities, local, state and federal government, as well as the private sector.

Solar Industrial Research Facility

The SIRF hosts a world-class manufacturing facility that enables the development of UNSW's solicon solar cell technologies. Globally over 90% of all solar modules produced today are based on UNSW technology. 

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Water Research Laboratory

The UNSW WRL will lead the hydrologic aspects of the Commonwealth Clean Energy Regulator's 'Blue Carbon Method'. The federal government has approved the first blue carbon method under the Emissions Reduction Fund that generates Australian Carbon Credits when restoring tidal flows to blue carbon ecosystems.

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