Grattan Institute – State of Affairs: Zero-emissions Australia, opportunities and barriers

This event was an online live discussion on 2 July 2020.

In this Grattan Institute and the State Library of Queensland presented webinar, Professor of Economics at The University of Melbourne, Ross Garnaut, CEO of Climate Works, Anna Skarbek and Grattan Institute Energy Fellow, Guy Dundas explore the opportunities and barriers Australia will face in a low-emissions world. Australia continues to debate whether achieving very low or net zero emissions will cost jobs or open a new era for the country as an energy superpower. The discussion is moderated by Grattan’s Tony Wood and each expert brings a perspective informed by their recent published work.

This event is presented in partnership with the Grattan Institute, dedicated to developing high quality public policy for Australia’s future.

Event Speakers

Ross Garnaut is an economist whose career has been built around the analysis of and practice of policy connected to development, economic policy and international relations in Australia, Asia and the Pacific. He has held senior roles in universities, business, government and other Australian and international institutions. He is Professorial Research Fellow in Economics at the University of Melbourne. In 2009 Ross was awarded the degree of Doctor of Letters, honoris causa, from the Australian National University and in 2013 he received a Doctor of Science in Economics, honoris causa, from the University of Sydney.

Anna Skarbek is the CEO of ClimateWorks Australia, working to develop the low carbon economy. A former banker and green policy adviser, Anna has led ClimateWorks since its creation in 2009, analysing emissions reduction opportunities and partnering with business and government to unblock barriers to their implementation. ClimateWorks’ independent and non-partisan approach, co-founded by The Myer Foundation and Monash University, sees her working with multiple federal government departments as well as State governments and large corporates. She works with other stakeholders including investors, business, environment and civil society leaders.

Guy Dundas has over ten years’ experience in government and consulting, focusing primarily on how Australia’s energy sector will change in response to climate change policy. His past roles include working for the Australian Productivity Commission, the Climate Change Authority, Vivid Economics, ACIL Allen Consulting and various Australian Government departments. Guy has a Master of Environmental and Resource Economics from the Australian National University, and bachelor’s degrees in both Economics and Politics from the University of Adelaide.

Tony Wood AM has been Energy Program Director at Grattan since 2011 after 14 years working at Origin Energy in senior executive roles. From 2009 to 2014 he was also Program Director of Clean Energy Projects at the Clinton Foundation, advising governments in the Asia-Pacific region on effective deployment of large-scale, low-emission energy technologies. In 2008, he was seconded to provide an industry perspective to the first Garnaut climate change review.