What is a ‘just transition’? Why is it so challenging to talk about in Australia? To answer these questions, this panel brings together community advocates and academics to talk about Australia’s use and export of coal in light of our commitment to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. While the climate emergency demands action, there has been limited government response in the coal sector.

This panel will present the results of a collaborative report by the British Academy and SEI on A Just Transition from Coal in Australia, which details how the concept is understood in Australia and what this means for climate action.

Speakers

Associate Professor Gareth Edwards, University of East Anglia

Wendy Farmer, Voices of the Valley

Jan Kucic-Riker, University of Sydney

Professor Susan Park, University of Sydney

This event is part of the Sydney Environment Institute’s Communities on the Frontline Series, which explores the impacts of a transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy on a range of local communities on the frontline. This event series links multiple SEI research projects, including Unsettling Resources and Grounded Imaginaries, and highlights the work of the Institute in addressing those often left behind by systemic changes. The series features multiple events that delve into the social and ethical implications of a just transition in the Australian energy sector.