Research Supervisor Connect
This project addresses a critical gap in Australia’s climate mitigation research by exploring future post-growth pathways through which the country can align its greenhouse gas emissions with the 1.5°C climate target while improving citizen wellbeing. Although Australia has committed to reducing emissions by 43% by 2030 and reaching net zero by 2050, with plans for 82% of its power to come from renewables, these targets are jeopardised due to the emissions-increasing effects of economic and population growth. Relying solely on technological advancements has proven insufficient, prompting the need to consider alternative strategies such as degrowth. While post-growth research is well-established and supported in the EU, it remains largely absent in Australia. This project will model post-growth futures in which Australia transitions to a downscaled, environmentally and socially sustainable economy. It will develop innovative modelling techniques to establish a new interdisciplinary research stream in industrial ecology, generating significant new knowledge on how public provisioning, sufficiency, universal basic services, and other reforms can support wellbeing in a sustainable society. Outcomes will include a robust framework for post-growth climate mitigation scenarios, providing practical tools for policymakers, sustainability practitioners, and researchers. These tools will inform a just transition to net zero and support Australia’s commitments under the Sustainable Development Goals, with results underpinned by qualitative storylines to engage broader public audiences through media and public discourse.
This opportunity/project is a part of the Faculty of Science Australian Research Council (ARC) Scholarship scheme and will be advertised on the Scholarship Office website starting mid-May 2025. The selected applicant is expected to commence their candidature in July (RP3) 2025 onward. Successful applicants will be supervised by Professor Manfred Lenzen and focus primarily on their PhD projects. They will also have the opportunity to participate in any activities held at the University of Sydney under the ARC Discovery Project (DP). Candidate will be enrolled in the School of Physics, Faculty of Science at the University of Sydney.
Notes:
• The application process is separate from applying for admission to the University of Sydney.
• The scholarship will only be awarded once the successful applicant has received an unconditional offer of admission.
• International applicants are responsible for securing any necessary visas and costs to enable study in Sydney.
The opportunity ID for this research opportunity is 3629