Industrial regions play a vital role in Australia’s decarbonisation journey. They account for a significant share of emissions while also being economic and employment powerhouses—making them central to a just and effective transition. While each region is unique, many of the challenges and opportunities in the shift to net zero are shared and would benefit from greater coordination.
The Australian Industry Energy Transitions Initiative (Industry ETI) identified the need for collaboration across industrial regions to accelerate decarbonisation. In response, Climate-KIC Australia and CSIRO co-convened the Industrial Regions Network—a platform that connects industry, government, civil society, and researchers to tackle shared challenges, unlock opportunities, and build resilience together.
Contact us if you are working in regional transitions.
Industrial regions play a vital role in Australia’s decarbonisation journey. They account for a significant share of emissions while also being economic and employment powerhouses—making them central to a just and effective transition. While each region is unique, many of the challenges and opportunities in the shift to net zero are shared and would benefit from greater coordination.
The Australian Industry Energy Transitions Initiative (Industry ETI) identified the need for collaboration across industrial regions to accelerate decarbonisation. In response, Climate-KIC Australia and CSIRO co-convened the Industrial Regions Network—a platform that connects industry, government, civil society, and researchers to tackle shared challenges, unlock opportunities, and build resilience together.
Connecting people and organisations to foster meaningful relationships
Building cumulative knowledge and capability by sharing and learning
Facilitating collaboration, coordination and action to accelerate the transition
Enabling action research, applying evidence and insights to place-based transitions
Enabling diverse stakeholders to access and benefit from Network learnings as they emerge and evolve
Activities in regions all around Australia are central to the energy, economic and social transition underway. Regional stakeholders, and those working with them, want to quickly figure out how to support an effective transition. They want to know what’s working, what’s not, what they need, and how to address the new challenges and opportunities emerging. They want to learn from others and connect with their peers nationally and globally.
A large proportion of emissions reduction activities, new energy generation and infrastructure, coal mine and coal fired power station closures, and new clean industry growth is centred in regional areas. In these regions, communities, workers, small and large businesses, local governments and government agencies, First Nations communities, education providers, not-for-profits are already experiencing or are anticipating and shaping this complex change. They are looking for ways to create long term local prosperity, to manage risks through the transition, and for the transition to deliver positive economic, social and environmental outcomes.
State and federal governments have a range of programs in areas including renewable energy, industry decarbonisation, grid transformation, new industry development, support for workers through closures, jobs and skills growth, community engagement, research, new regulations and market stimulation.
Companies are also prioritising the transition with targets, executive responsibilities, plans, projects, and new teams. They are mobilising to figure out the how of the transition.
There is a lot going on, and much of it is piecemeal and, lacking in holistic structure and coordination. The complexity and pace of this transition is new to everyone, and most recognise they can’t do everything on their own.
We are convening organisations across Australia to tackle this challenge together, including those from:
The Network has hosted multiple events since June 2023 and continues to iterate and evolve. We are learning and adapting as we go to ensure we complement and build on what’s happening elsewhere. The topics we’ve covered in our sessions so far include:
The current phase will deliver:
Activities in regions all around Australia are central to the energy, economic and social transition underway. Regional stakeholders, and those working with them, want to quickly figure out how to support an effective transition. They want to know what’s working, what’s not, what they need, and how to address the new challenges and opportunities emerging. They want to learn from others and connect with their peers nationally and globally.
A large proportion of emissions reduction activities, new energy generation and infrastructure, coal mine and coal fired power station closures, and new clean industry growth is centred in regional areas. In these regions, communities, workers, small and large businesses, local governments and government agencies, First Nations communities, education providers, not-for-profits are already experiencing or are anticipating and shaping this complex change. They are looking for ways to create long term local prosperity, to manage risks through the transition, and for the transition to deliver positive economic, social and environmental outcomes.
State and federal governments have a range of programs in areas including renewable energy, industry decarbonisation, grid transformation, new industry development, support for workers through closures, jobs and skills growth, community engagement, research, new regulations and market stimulation.
Companies are also prioritising the transition with targets, executive responsibilities, plans, projects, and new teams. They are mobilising to figure out the how of the transition.
There is a lot going on, and much of it is piecemeal and, lacking in holistic structure and coordination. The complexity and pace of this transition is new to everyone, and most recognise they can’t do everything on their own.
The Network accelerates net zero transitions in industrial regions with diverse participants from industry, government, civil society, and research. The Network enables effective action by connecting regions and stakeholders to:
Climate-KIC Australia and CSIRO are convening the Industrial Regions Network to help accelerate decarbonisation and the transition to net zero in industrial regions.
For the Network, industrial regions are geographical areas that include diverse stakeholders and multiple industries working on decarbonisation and the transition to net zero.
Climate-KIC Australia brings expertise in working with multi-stakeholder groups to shape and deliver collaborations for sustainability transitions with systemic climate impact.
In the design and establishment phase, Climate-KIC’s role includes:
The Network accelerates net zero transitions in industrial regions with diverse participants from industry, government, civil society, and research. The Network enables effective action by connecting regions and stakeholders to:
Climate-KIC Australia and CSIRO are convening the Industrial Regions Network to help accelerate decarbonisation and the transition to net zero in industrial regions.
For the Network, industrial regions are geographical areas that include diverse stakeholders and multiple industries working on decarbonisation and the transition to net zero.
As Director of Strategic Projects, Jason develops and leads multi-stakeholder system transition initiatives, leveraging his experience in Europe over the past decade working with large scale demonstrations and innovation ecosystem building initiatives for industry and cities.
As Climate-KIC Australia’s Director of Systems Innovation Meredith brings her experience in strategy, design, innovation and facilitation to shape and deliver projects and portfolios for systemic impact. She leverages her experience in consulting, financial services, corporate innovation and a start up to help people and organisations tackle the complexity of climate action.
As a Project Officer, Nodoka is responsible for supporting stakeholder engagements and the delivery of strategic projects. With experience managing health portfolios and founding a start-up in the Middle East, Nodoka is passionate about facilitating effective intersectoral collaborations that shape a just transition. Nodoka also participates in the Sustainable Development Solutions Network for Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific as a youth advisor and the UTS Sustainability Alliance of Students and Staff as a Co-founder and Vice President.
Network participants have emphasised the need and value of having diverse voices and perspectives. We are seeking participants from regions, industry, community groups and government. If that’s you and you would like to get involved, get in touch with us.
The Industrial Regions Network is co-convened with CSIRO, as part of the organisation’s ‘Towards Net Zero Mission‘.
Early support for this initiative has been from philanthropic funding, CSIRO, and Climate-KIC Australia.
