Fossil resources are needed to produce products and services we all use every day – from cement and steel to plastic and fertiliser. But the demand for these goods is in direct competition with the global race to reduce emissions.
In August 2024, a new approach to tackling our fossil resource dependency was launched, with the official opening of the UNSW Institute for Industrial Decarbonisation.
The IID 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.
UNSW Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Attila Brungs said the University had brought the brightest minds around the table to tackle this wicked problem facing society.
“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,” Prof. Brungs said.
UNSW IID Chief Executive Officer David Eyre said Australia was uniquely positioned to demonstrate global leadership as the transition towards net zero gathered pace.
“Decarbonisation goes hand in hand with economic development opportunities for Australia and allies across the ASEAN region.
“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,” Mr Eyre said.
“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. 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.
Mr Eyre says decarbonising needs to be a collaborative approach across professional disciplines and all sectors of the economy.
“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.”
The launch of the IID included a panel discussion featuring distinguished guests Scientia Professor Rose Amal from UNSW’s School of Chemical Engineering, highly experienced business executive Grant King, and Engineers Australia CEO Romilly Madew AO.
Mr Eyre, who moderated the panel discussion, added in his introduction to the event: “It's a huge call to step away from industrial systems that are reliable, cost effective, and have been perfected over centuries. But it has to be done.
“Any way you look at it, it's a profoundly complex process involving step changes, potentially a lot of economic risk, and some nasty shocks.
“Those who are working in the field know just how complex and how risky decarbonisation can be if we don't get the process right. We need to decarbonise, but we mustn't break the economy or the social contract in the process.”
Find out more on the UNSW Institute for Industrial Decarbonisation website, or listen to UNSW’s Engineering the Future of Decarbonisation podcast episode.
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