Dr Cameron Allen is a sustainability scientist and international expert in sustainable development and the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Cameron applies his expertise in systems thinking, scenario planning, integrated assessment modelling and transformation research to demonstrate how the SDGs can be used as a blueprint to guide policy and investment decisions that deliver a more prosperous, equitable and sustainable future. Cameron’s research responds to growing demand from governments, business, and other stakeholders to better understand and navigate an increasingly complex and uncertain future which is being shaped by interrelated shocks and megatrends.
Cameron has close to 20 years professional experience working with research institutions, the United Nations, the Australian Government and international NGOs and organizations. He is currently a Post-Doctoral Fellow at UNSW, Adjunct Research Fellow at Monash Sustainable Development Institute, and Senior Advisor to the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network. Cameron supported the intergovernmental negotiations on the SDGs at the UN and worked as a UN advisor on green economy, environmental management and statistics. He also worked as a manager and policy advisor in the Australian Department of Climate Change and Department of Environment, the Australian Bureau of Statistics, and the NSW Government.
Cameron’s research and work are interdisciplinary with a focus on practical problem solving and actionable science. His qualifications include a PhD and MPhil in sustainable development, a Master of Environmental Management, and Bachelor degrees in business and science. Cameron has published widely in the fields of sustainable development, environmental science and policy, and sustainability science.
Allen C; Breuer A; Kercher J; Balasubramanian P; Leininger J; Gadgil A, 2022, 'The role of good governance in reducing poverty and inequality: Evidence from a scoping review of interlinkages between SDGs 16, 10, and 1', in Governing the Interlinkages between the SDGs: Approaches, Opportunities and Challenges, pp. 30 - 50, http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9781003254683-3
Journal articles | 2025
Allen C; Malekpour S; Persson Å; Bennich T, 2025, 'Accelerating progress on the SDGs: Policy guidance from the global modeling literature', One Earth, 8, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2025.101286
Journal articles | 2025
Allen C; Pedercini M; Assuad C; Pawlowsky VN; Wellington-Moore C, 2025, 'Correction to: Participatory modelling and scenario exploration to address the air pollution challenge in Thailand and Laos (Sustainability Science, (2025), 10.1007/s11625-025-01670-2)', Sustainability Science, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11625-025-01705-8
Journal articles | 2025
Allen C; Pedercini M; Assuad C; Pawlowsky VN; Wellington-Moore C, 2025, 'Participatory modelling and scenario exploration to address the air pollution challenge in Thailand and Laos', Sustainability Science, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11625-025-01670-2
Journal articles | 2024
Allen C; Biddulph A; Wiedmann T; Pedercini M; Malekpour S, 2024, 'Modelling six sustainable development transformations in Australia and their accelerators, impediments, enablers, and interlinkages', Nature Communications, 15, pp. 594, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-44655-4
Journal articles | 2024
Allen C; Malekpour S, 2024, 'Correction to: Unlocking and accelerating transformations to the SDGs: a review of existing knowledge (Sustainability Science, (2023), 18, 4, (1939-1960), 10.1007/s11625-023-01342-z)', Sustainability Science, 19, pp. 675, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11625-024-01473-x
Journal articles | 2024
Broadbent GH; Metternicht G; Wiedmann T; Allen C, 2024, 'Transforming Australia's road fleet with electric vehicles: Strategies and impediments affecting net-zero emissions targets for 2050', Case Studies on Transport Policy, 16, pp. 101191, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cstp.2024.101191
Pradhan P; Weitz N; Daioglou V; Abrahão GM; Allen C; Ambrósio G; Arp F; Asif F; Bennich T; Benton TG; Biermann F; Cao M; Carlsen H; Chen F; Chen M; Daams MN; Dawes JHP; Dhakal S; Gilmore E; Miguel LJ; Hubacek K; Hu Y; Jager W; KC S; Kearney NM; Khot UA; Kluck T; Kulkarni S; Leininger J; Li C; Li J; Lotze-Campen H; Parrado-Hernando G; Pedercini M; Phuyal RK; Prell C; Rijal A; Schweizer V; Sijtsma FJ; Soergel B; Spittler N; van Vuuren D; Warchold A; Weber E; Wicke B; Widerberg O; Wilts R; Wingens C; Wu C; Xing Q; Yan J; Yuan Z; Zhou X; Zimm C, 2024, 'Three foci at the science-policy interface for systemic Sustainable Development Goal acceleration', Nature Communications, 15, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-52926-x
Journal articles | 2023
Allen C; Malekpour S; Mintrom M, 2023, 'Cross-scale, cross-level and multi-actor governance of transformations toward the Sustainable Development Goals: A review of common challenges and solutions', Sustainable Development, 31, pp. 1250 - 1267, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/sd.2495
Journal articles | 2023
Allen C; Malekpour S, 2023, 'Unlocking and accelerating transformations to the SDGs: a review of existing knowledge', Sustainability Science, 18, pp. 1939 - 1960, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11625-023-01342-z
Journal articles | 2023
Bennich T; Persson Å; Beaussart R; Allen C; Malekpour S, 2023, 'Recurring patterns of SDG interlinkages and how they can advance the 2030 Agenda', One Earth, 6, pp. 1465 - 1476, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2023.10.008
Journal articles | 2023
Goodwin K; Allen C; Teh SH; Li M; Fry J; Lenzen M; Farrelly S; Leon C; Lewis S; Chen G; Schandl H; Wiedmann T, 2023, 'Targeting 1.5 degrees with the global carbon footprint of the Australian Capital Territory', Environmental Science and Policy, 144, pp. 137 - 150, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2023.03.006
Journal articles | 2023
Malekpour S; Allen C; Sagar A; Scholz I; Persson Å; Miranda JJ; Bennich T; Dube OP; Kanie N; Madise N; Shackell N; Montoya JC; Pan J; Hathie I; Bobylev SN; Agard J; Al-Ghanim K, 2023, 'What scientists need to do to accelerate progress on the SDGs', Nature, 621, pp. 250 - 254, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/d41586-023-02808-x
Journal articles | 2022
Allen C; Oldfield P; Teh SH; Wiedmann T; Langdon S; Yu M; Yang J, 2022, 'Modelling ambitious climate mitigation pathways for Australia's built environment', Sustainable Cities and Society, 77, pp. 103554, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2021.103554
Journal articles | 2022
Broadbent G; Allen C; Wiedmann T; Metternicht G, 2022, 'The role of electric vehicles in decarbonising Australia's road transport sector: modelling ambitious scenarios', Energy Policy, 168, pp. 113144, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2022.113144
Journal articles | 2022
Broadbent GH; Allen CI; Wiedmann T; Metternicht GI, 2022, 'Accelerating electric vehicle uptake: Modelling public policy options on prices and infrastructure', Transportation Research Part A Policy and Practice, 162, pp. 155 - 174, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tra.2022.05.012
Journal articles | 2021
Allen C; Metternicht G; Wiedmann T; Pedercini M, 2021, 'Modelling national transformations to achieve the SDGs within planetary boundaries in small island developing states', Global Sustainability, 4, pp. e15, http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/sus.2021.13
Journal articles | 2021
Allen C; Metternicht G; Wiedmann T, 2021, 'Priorities for science to support national implementation of the sustainable development goals: A review of progress and gaps', Sustainable Development, 29, pp. 635 - 652, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/sd.2164
Journal articles | 2021
Allen C; Smith M; Rabiee M; Dahmm H, 2021, 'A review of scientific advancements in datasets derived from big data for monitoring the Sustainable Development Goals', Sustainability Science, 16, pp. 1701 - 1716, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11625-021-00982-3
Journal articles | 2021
Wiedmann T; Allen C, 2021, 'City footprints and SDGs provide untapped potential for assessing city sustainability', Nature Communications, 12, pp. 3758, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-23968-2
Journal articles | 2020
Allen C; Metternicht G; Verburg P; Akhtar-Schuster M; Inacio da Cunha M; Sanchez Santivañez M, 2020, 'Delivering an enabling environment and multiple benefits for land degradation neutrality: Stakeholder perceptions and progress', Environmental Science and Policy, 114, pp. 109 - 118, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2020.07.029
Journal articles | 2020
Allen C; Reid M; Thwaites J; Glover R; Kestin T, 2020, 'Assessing national progress and priorities for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): experience from Australia', Sustainability Science, 15, pp. 521 - 538, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11625-019-00711-x
Journal articles | 2019
Allen C; Metternicht G; Wiedmann T; Pedercini M, 2019, 'Greater gains for Australia by tackling all SDGs but the last steps will be the most challenging', Nature Sustainability, 2, pp. 1041 - 1050, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41893-019-0409-9
Journal articles | 2019
Allen C; Metternicht G; Wiedmann T, 2019, 'Prioritising SDG targets: assessing baselines, gaps and interlinkages', Sustainability Science, 14, pp. 421 - 438, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11625-018-0596-8
Journal articles | 2018
Allen C; Metternicht G; Wiedmann T, 2018, 'Initial progress in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): a review of evidence from countries', Sustainability Science, 13, pp. 1453 - 1467, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11625-018-0572-3
Journal articles | 2017
Allen C; Metternicht G; Wiedmann T, 2017, 'An Iterative Framework for National Scenario Modelling for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)', Sustainable Development, 25, pp. 372 - 385, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/sd.1662
Journal articles | 2017
Allen C; Nejdawi R; El-Baba J; Hamati K; Metternicht GI; Wiedmann T, 2017, 'Indicator-based assessment of progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): a case study from the Arab region', Sustainability Science, 12, pp. 975 - 989, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11625-017-0437-1
Journal articles | 2016
Allen C; Metternicht G; Wiedmann T, 2016, 'National pathways to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): A comparative review of scenario modelling tools', Environmental Science and Policy, 66, pp. 199 - 207, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2016.09.008
Preprints | 2023
Allen C; Biddulph A; Wiedmann T; Pedercini M; Malekpour S, 2023, Modelling six sustainable development transformations and their accelerators, impediments, enablers, and interlinkages, http://dx.doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-2437723/v1
Reports | 2021
Goodwin K; Wiedmann T; Allen C; Lenzen M; Li M; Fry J; Schandl H; Chen G; Teh SH; Micevski D, 2021, ACT OCSE Investigation into Scope 3 Greenhouse Gas Emissions - Report on Scope 3 Greenhouse Gas Emissions of the Australian Capital Territory, UNSW Sydney, the University of Sydney and CSIRO Land and Water, http://dx.doi.org/10.26190/unsworks/28117, http://www.environmentcommissioner.act.gov.au/
Preprints |
Broadbent G; Allen CI; Wiedmann T; Metternicht GI, Accelerating Electric Vehicle Uptake: Modelling Public Policy Options on Prices and Infrastructure, http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3985500
Media | 2019
Allen C; Metternicht G; Wiedmann T, 2019, If you think less immigration will solve Australia’s problems, you’re wrong; but neither will more., http://dx.doi.org/10.26190/unsworks/27326
Media | 2019
Allen C; Metternicht G; Wiedmann T, 2019, We modelled 4 scenarios for Australia’s future. Economic growth alone can’t deliver the goods, http://dx.doi.org/10.26190/unsworks/27575
