About
Our mission
Catalysing ambitious and pragmatic reforms in law, policy and governance to contribute to the integrated environment, social and economic objectives of the global sustainable development agenda.
Established in 2022 by UNSW Law and Justice, opens in a new window, CSDR strives to fulfil the public responsibilities and mission of UNSW; to provide education, conduct research and contribute to society.
Centre activities currently span more than 20 countries and are characterised by working in partnership with decision-makers across government, international institutions, local communities, and the private and non-profit sectors. We build and scale enduring multi-disciplinary partnerships and creating safe spaces for decisionmakers to plan pragmatic actions informed by rigorous science, knowledge and expert insights.
Our work is organised around three pathways:
Business-as-usual approaches to development are not consistent with a prosperous future. New approaches to decision-making are needed to ensure that current generations can meet their own needs, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs.
Bold and intelligent reforms—to laws, policies, institutions and business practice—are urgently needed to combat climate change, the decline of nature, and other complex threats to sustainable development. If well-designed and well-implemented, these reforms can also unlock new opportunities.
The Centre for Sustainable Development Reform creates safe spaces for changemakers—from government, business, and wider society—to plan practical action for a sustainable futures informed by knowledge and insights from across the world. We welcome long-term partners and diverse forms of collaboration.