March 5 2025: Reimagining Diversity in Clean EnergyCareers launches today.
The rapid expansion of clean energy development is driving demand for hundreds of thousands of workers with diverse skills but right now many of those roles remain unfilled.
This shortfall presents an opportunity. The Next Economy’s Reimagining Diversity in Clean Energy Careers report shows that by removing barriers to workforce participation for people from marginalised groups and communities, Australia can achieve a faster and fairer energy transition.
It finds that fostering greater diversity and inclusion in the clean energy workforce can improve outcomes for individuals and communities, all while generating benefits for businesses and regional economies and helping Australia meet its renewable energy targets.
Fostering greater diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the workforce can improve outcomes for individuals and communities, as well as generate benefits for businesses and the economy.
The task is significant, but there are practical actions that can be taken to remove barriers to participation and build a workforce that delivers a faster, fairer and more inclusive transition to net zero.
The report outlines several opportunity areas to help drive this change:
Foster a thriving workforce development ecosystem: connecting diverse stakeholders, creating the conditions for collaboration while supporting marginalised individuals and regional economies
Strengthen inclusive career development pathways: providing equitable access and opportunities for all learners and workers
Create supportive and inclusive workplaces: ensuring employees from diverse backgrounds feel welcome, valued and supported at work
The report shows these opportunity areas work best when underpinned by a core principle of putting people at the centre of all workforce development efforts.
Stakeholders from different sectors across Gladstone have set directions for their future and are working together to manage the net zero transition. Pictured here is a representative of the Queensland Department of State Development and Infrastructure, explaining the history of Gladstone’s industrial transitions to visiting philanthropists and investors. Source: The Next Economy / William Debois.
Developed through research, interviews and workshops and drawing on insights from The Next Economy’s work with regional communities at the frontline of the energy transition, the Reimagining Diversity in Clean EnergyCareers report is a resource to support stakeholders take a broader view of what diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace can look like. It highlights actions that leads to workforce development in the clean energy sector that benefit everyone.
Curious to learn more about the report? We’ll be hosting a briefing session in April 2025. Register your interest to be notified of upcoming dates by filling out this form:
(October 2024) Across Australia, communities are leading the transition to net zero – navigating multiple, compounding disruptions along the way – after years of minimal action or even discussion on climate change at a national level.
TNE’s Jacqui Bell, Dr Katherine Trebeck and Dr Amanda Cahill share key insights, ranging on topics from regional transition trends to nature and land use trade-offs to wellbeing economy principles, at the 2024 Better Futures Forum in September 2024. Photo credits: BFF/Gab Connolle
Here are five key trends or themes Dr Amanda Cahill, CEO of The Next Economy, and the team has observed in recent months:
Missing champions: The lived experiences of communities actively navigating the transition—experimenting, innovating, and addressing local needs—are often missing from the national conversation. From a community group in Gympie installing solar panels on local infrastructure to support vulnerable populations, including domestic violence shelters, to energy companies focused on creating long-term community benefits like housing, there are so many people getting on with it. We should be celebrating and learning from them.
Mixed signals: Regional communities are largely committed to the transition, but mixed signals from state and federal governments are not only frustrating they’re also undermining confidence to move forward with the real work. While there’s more investment in renewables and policies for net zero today than even a few years ago, new fossil fuel projects are still being approved even when expert bodies like the International Energy Agency say fossil fuel use must peak by 2025.
Models questioned: One of the most striking trends is the growing shift in how people think about the economy. For example, beyond day-to-day concerns like the cost of living, more communities are questioning the broader purpose of the economic system itself. The key question being asked is: if the economy isn’t directly benefiting local communities, what is its real value? Another question that keeps coming up is why development proponents decide whether their project will have social and environmental impacts on a community instead of a single, independent process and regulator. This shift in perspective signals a deeper rethinking of what good economic development really looks like. Read more: Rethinking economic responses: tackling the root causes of today’s challenges
Moving forward: We are now in the implementation phase of the net zero transition. It’s going to be challenging for a while, but we need to stay on course and remember that the decisions we make now really do matter. Right now, the infrastructure we invest in, the industries we promote and support, and how we build the capacity and mechanisms to ensure enduring community benefits, are all going to determine whether we reach our 2050 net zero goals – let alone the more ambitious ones that the science tells us we should be striving for. We can find a way forward that works for people and the planet.
The good news is, we have the knowledge, technology, skills and resources to draw from, we just need to get on with it.
TNE staff at Heading Upstream Lab in August 2024, where leaders driving change across Australia convened to explore ways to put people and the planet first when it comes to the economy.
The Australian Government can play a key role in helping regional communities prepare for the economic changes brought on by the clean energy transition.
As many clean energy jobs will be concentrated in regional renewable energy zones, building the capacity of regional communities to manage development, attract investment for enabling services and infrastructure, and address workforce challenges is essential.
With effective resources and support, local stakeholders can lead efforts to create training programs, support services, and initiatives that ensure a skilled and diverse workforce while fostering sustainable regional development.
In September, The Next Economy provided a submission for the National Energy Workforce Strategy Public Consultation process. In it, we identified a range of insights on increasing inclusivity in the clean energy workforce (read more here), as well as five examples of actions that already are or have to potential to empower regions in clean energy workforce development:
Coordinate planning and development of clean energy projects, associated infrastructure and other industries within a region. Regional coordination and phased planning can manage workforce demand and support worker mobility. Co-locating new manufacturing and industry precincts within renewable energy zones also have the potential to stabilise clean energy workforce demand and create lasting careers. Developers and industry benefit from these approaches with clear roles, responsibilities, and timelines, along with cost certainty and transparent infrastructure investment programs.
For example: the Victorian Planning Authority (VPA) works with councils, government departments and the community to provide employment, transport, public space and housing planning in the context of an increasing population. The VPA has identified the staged development of housing lots and required infrastructure such as roads and utilities.
Develop place-based training and education initiatives and partnerships: that aggregate skill and expertise demand from across sectors and co-designs and delivers courses with industry in a region.
For example: in the Upper Spencer Gulf, Uni Hub is working with local industries to ensure their needs are connected with training providers and potential students.
Support local businesses to adapt and scale up their operations for greater participation in the sector. In many regional areas where new energy development is proposed, the scale of workers required outstrips the local labour market. In addition, the essential services and infrastructure required to support workforce and population growth are limited or non-existent.
Currently, local content requirements from state governments are aimed to drive regional economic benefits. However, often insufficient existing workforce capacity, the cost to prepare businesses to be ready to tender for clean energy development contracts, and uncertainty around long-term work security all limit the capacity of local businesses to scale their operations and bring on new workers.
For example: TNE’s work with Hay and Carrathool shire councils on climate adaptation and economic transition this year has shown that local businesses are interested in tendering for large renewables projects but lack the capacity and resources to adapt. Uncertainty around work pipelines, contracts, timing, and qualifications prevents businesses from scaling, investing in workforce development, or hiring. Early engagement and ongoing support are crucial for scaling regional workforce development. Accessible, up-to-date local data is needed to improve transparency, workforce planning, and equitable recruitment strategies.
Provide resources for local government and local stakeholders: to carry out the feasibility and business planning activities necessary to develop the case for investment in local services, coordination activities and infrastructure.
For example: in the Cradle Coast Region, developers are working together to address housing shortage as they understand it is a key constraint to renewable energy development. In Gladstone, the economic roadmap process delivered by the local council identified the lack of birthing facilities as a key barrier to retaining workers once they are married and look to start families. Improving access to health services in Gladstone is seen a core strategy to retain the workforce. In NSW, the Murrumbidgee Council has negotiated to improve health services through the community benefit agreement.
Embed additional capacity within local governments: to manage and coordinate regional clean energy related activities. Regional local governments play a key role in coordinating clean energy activities, managing community benefits, and supporting the infrastructure and workforce needs of the energy transition. In Renewable Energy Zones, local governments are dedicating significant resources to these tasks, often diverting attention from regular operations due to limited funding and staff. Many are handling large, complex projects unseen in their region for decades, requiring new expertise to manage the technical, legal, and managerial aspects of energy development.
For example: An NSW Government initiative is providing $250,000 of funding for local governments to carry out planning over the next 3 years is an example of the type of support required; however additional and enduring funding (for the duration of the energy infrastructure development in the region) is necessary to cover the true cost that local governments will bear to manage the energy transformation effectively in their region.
New research from UTS Institute for Sustainable Futures (ISF) and the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) shows the electricity workforce alone needs to double within five years to meet Australia’s 2030 renewable energy target. More than 80 per cent of these roles will be in renewables, with energy storage jobs soon surpassing domestic coal and gas sectors.
This research highlights the big opportunity to address workforce shortages, especially in regional areas, by fostering inclusive policies that ensure equitable benefits and meaningful employment across all communities. Prioritising inclusion and equity in workforce development is key to a just and fair transition toward a net-zero future for all Australians.
In September, The Next Economy provided a submission for the National Energy Workforce Strategy Consultation Paper. We identified five examples of actions that already are or have to potential to empower regions in clean energy workforce development (read more here) alongside the following key insights:
The benefits of enhancing diverse participation and meaningful employment
Every Australian should benefit from clean energy development, including the opportunity to access and meaningfully participate in the workforce. Research shows Australia’s clean energy workforce, like many other industries, has room to improve in diversity, equity, and inclusion. Factors like competition with other industries and projects, lack of training, the characteristics of clean energy jobs, and insufficient regional consultation contribute to workforce shortages in the sector overall.
Greater attention to diversity, equity and inclusion in workforce development carries broad benefits. Companies who have engaged in inclusive hiring processes have reported benefits such as access to a larger talent pool, higher retention and satisfaction rates, improved workplace culture and greater performance and productivity. In turn, inclusive and equitable workforce development practices facilitate pathways into jobs for people who often face systemic barriers to employment. It also promotes greater workforce diversity, fosters a workers’ sense of belonging and inclusion, enhances health and social outcomes and ensures workers are treated with respect and dignity and more likely to be retained.
An opportunity to power First Nations Jobs
The clean energy transformation is an opportunity to increase workforce participation of First Nations Peoples. The Powering First Nations Jobs in Clean Energyreport, by the First Nations Clean Energy Network, is a detailed resource that identifies pathways and options for First Nations Peoples to be supported to enter the clean energy workforce and access quality job opportunities and career pathways as they emerge.
Consistent, long-term Government investment in job readiness and business support programs that are led and codesigned by and for First Nations Peoples is needed. Such investment can support the scaling of efforts underway by the private sector in implementing partnerships and employment pathway programs tailored to First Nations Peoples. For example, in the Department of Defence’s Shoalwater Bay Training Area, Downer Defence worked with a range of partners to deliver training programs and initiatives that support small and medium sized Indigenous businesses to enter and thrive in the defence industry.
Support for migrants, refugees, people with a disability and those recently out of prison
Our research has found that affordability of training, lack of awareness around the need for workforce equity and inclusion, misconceptions about abilities, procurement requirements, development speed, and the culture of clean energy workplaces, all impede on the diverse participation in the clean energy workforce.
Strategies tailored to people and their unique context can drive greater participation in the clean energy workforce for different groups. These include building awareness, inspiration and attraction to clean energy careers across diverse populations, improving access to affordable higher education, ensuring ‘wrap around support’ is available for people transitioning into work, cross sectoral collaborations and partnerships, and fostering a workforce culture that is inclusive and values the abilities and contributions of all.
The rapidly growing clean energy sector is well poised to develop a diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce at the scale and pace required to achieve national targets. Other related sectors have experienced the benefits of a diverse and inclusive workforce over the years and developed significant body of knowledge on how to support workforce development in an inclusive and equitable way. The clean energy sector has the advantage of drawing on this existing knowledge and ensure that opportunities in the clean energy workforce benefits all Australians.
As part of The Next Economy’s mission to reimagine Australia’s economic future, we are excited to co-host Sandrine Dixson-Declève, co-president of the Club of Rome and Executive Chair of Earth4All, during her visit to the country in late October 2024.
A global thought leader in sustainability and economic transformation, Sandrine will offer critical insights at a pivotal moment for Australia. With debates around emissions, energy, and housing intensifying, her perspective on building a wellbeing economy that addresses both environmental and societal challenges will be invaluable.
In this Q&A, Sandrine explores the political, social, and global dimensions of creating a fairer, more sustainable future.
Join Dixson-Declève in Australia for the Survival Guide for Humanity – October dates and ticket information here. Read more about TNE’s work on economic systems change:
Sandrine Dixson-Declève, head of the Club of Rome, will visit Australia in October 2024.
What is Earth4All and what are some of the key points from that project?
Fifty years ago, The Limits to Growth warned of the dangers of pursuing endless growth on a finite planet. Earth4All is a collective of economic thinkers, scientists and advocates from across the world building on the legacy of that report in the light of the interlinked crises we’re seeing today and setting out the changes we need to address them. We’ve used the latest computer modelling techniques to explore two future scenarios for the planet: one in which we carry on with business as usual – we call this Too Little, Too Late – and one where societies embark on a new path to a sustainable world by 2050, the Giant Leap. The results were published in 2022 in Earth for All: A Survival Guide for Humanity.
What we have found is that the Giant Leap scenario is still achievable, but to get there the world needs nothing less than five extraordinary ‘turnarounds’: ending poverty, addressing inequality, reaching gender equity, transitioning to clean energy and making our food system healthy for people and planet. The case for this is evident when you see the immoral windfall profits made by the fossil fuel companies and industrial agricultural producers on the back of growing energy and food poverty. These issues need to be addressed together and must go hand in hand with an upgrade of our current extractive economic system to one that centres human and planetary wellbeing, not endless growth.
Earth4All outlines bold steps toward a fairer, more sustainable future. How do you gauge the political and social feasibility of implementing such systemic changes?
It’s clear that economic growth isn’t serving the majority. Societies are more unequal than ever; wellbeing is low and social tensions are on the rise. People are feeling the impact of the climate crisis.
This year we undertook a major survey of G20 countries to understand public attitudes to our proposals for changing the economic system. We found that a strong majority of people want change: over two thirds of people think the goal of the economy should be human and planetary wellbeing, not just growth. The same proportion think we should implement a wealth tax on the very rich to fund changes to our societies. And we found that over half of people supported all our policy proposals for improving wellbeing, from investing in green energy and public healthcare, to a universal basic income. So socially, these changes are absolutely feasible, but politicians need to catch up with public opinion.
There are hopeful signs in the achievements of wellbeing governments like Iceland, Scotland, Finland, New Zealand Costa Rica and Wales, but there is much more to be done to get wellbeing economy proposals to the top of the political and policy agenda.
What do you see as the main obstacles to transitioning to a wellbeing economy, and how can governments and institutions overcome them?
We’re seeing the rise of misinformation and democratic backsliding. It’s clear that the public wants better wellbeing, a fairer economy, but our recent survey results also show a lack of trust in government to make good decisions, especially in Europe. The current crises are already being exploited by far-right populists proposing false solutions. We need to protect and reinforce strong democracies to ensure policies that truly benefit the majority. Increasing citizen participation, for example through citizen’s assemblies, is one way to rebuild trust.
We also know that the transformation of our economies and societies will be disruptive. We need to change everything, and fast, and that will cause shocks. But these shocks will be less painful if we prepare for them with resilient systems.
We also have to remember that the cost of inaction on climate change, poverty and inequality are higher that the cost of action now, so governments and policymakers need to ensure that the transition is fair and provides the essentials as soon as possible and before 2030.
That’s why one of Earth4All’s policy proposals is a Universal Basic Dividend, a kind of universal basic income, that will help absorb some of the shocks of this transition period and bring the majority on board with the changes we need.
How can Australia and other countries ensure the shift toward sustainability and a wellbeing economy addresses global inequalities, especially in the Global South?
Many of the inequalities we see today globally are the result of an international financial system that is outdated, immoral and unjust. And this system is perpetuated by rich countries who consistently refuse to take bolder action on debt. Wealthy countries must cancel debt to low-income countries and support urgent reform of the global financial architecture so that these countries can take full advantage of their own resources and invest in the policies and infrastructure needed to increase wellbeing.
Consumption in wealthy countries also needs to be addressed. In the case of Australia, it needs to tackle both its fossil fuel exports and the level of emissions and consumption. Australia has done well at taking up, for example, rooftop solar, and there are many incredible circular economy businesses in the country [The Federal Government’s Measuring What Matters initiative is a welcome step towards bringing a wider range of outcomes to the fore]. But Australia also has some of the biggest houses in the world, the environmental impacts of flying are rarely discussed (and in many locations there aren’t good public transport options), and there is huge scope for making more buildings more energy efficient.
Ensuring First Nations communities benefit from renewables projects is also critical.
In your view, how can technological innovation support the goals of a wellbeing economy, and what risks should we be wary of in the process?
AI and other technological innovations have huge potential for advancing the goals of a wellbeing economy – ensuring decarbonisation and optimising energy and water use through smart technologies and innovations, but the digital sector also has to seriously reduce its own emissions.
Most importantly we must ensure that the use of these technologies is focused on improving people’s lives, not just lining the pockets of the few. Left unchecked, these innovations risk exacerbating existing inequalities.
We must also be wary of leaning too heavily on technological solutions to global crises. Our focus should be on the root causes of the polycrisis and shifting away from an extractive, GDP-focused economy to one focused on wellbeing, empowerment and addressing inequality, and that is something that technology alone cannot fix.
What key international trends or movements (good or bad) do you see emerging around sustainability and wellbeing economics, and how can countries like Australia learn from or contribute to these global shifts?
Conversations about wellbeing economics are no longer on the fringes, we’re seeing them happening in more international institutions and businesses – the World Economic Forum, OECD, the US Business Roundtable have all spoken out about the importance of other priorities besides growth.
Regarding sustainability we are seeing a two-speed approach: on the one hand you have backlash against ESG in the US but on the other you have more and more companies realising that sustainability across their business models and their value chains is the only way to build resilience to future shocks and stresses. My worry is that as a growing number of companies know decarbonisation is our future, many incumbents, especially the fossil energy companies, are backtracking.
Then of course there are the examples of countries like Finland, Iceland, Wales, New Zealand, Costa Rica and Scotland that are implementing elements of wellbeing economics into their policies, like tracking complementary growth metrics beyond GDP.
Building broad movements with both high-level champions and grassroots support is crucial, as well as consistently celebrating positive visions of a wellbeing economy in the country to bring people on board.
Katherine Trebeck [pictured below, The Next Economy], the instigator of the Wellbeing Economy Governments partnership (WEGo) recently published an Earth4All deep-dive paper exploring their experiences and what can be learned from them.
Katherine Trebeck, The Next Economy’s Economic Change Lead and instigator of the Wellbeing Economy Governments partnership (WeGo).
In the Australian context, what unique challenges or opportunities do you see in advancing the wellbeing economy, and what are you most looking forward to exploring during your visit here?
69% of Australians think that the country’s economy should prioritise the health and wellbeing of people and nature – this is pretty close to what citizens are saying across the G20. There is clearly an appetite for wellbeing economy proposals, and this is fantastic opportunity to centre them. Australia has no shortage of good examples to build on, whether that is pioneering businesses such as circular economy initiatives or employee-owned enterprises, or community banks or the growing community wealth building agenda. There are many creative innovators coming up with technological solutions. Various levels of government are starting to create multidimensional wellbeing frameworks to widen conceptions of success.
Now is an important time, when many people realise that business as usual cannot carry on but are unsure about what changes need to be made and are even anxious about that change. I look forward to talking with people about the need for change and the benefits it can bring, advancing the conversation in Australia alongside partners already doing fantastic work in the space like The Next Economy, and together building momentum towards a wellbeing economy. What we need now is to show Australians and citizens across the globe is that there is a plausible alternative future, one which reverses negative environmental and social tipping points, and Earth4All’s Giant Leap scenario shows the way.
Join Dixson-Declève in Australia for the Survival Guide for Humanity – dates and ticket information here.
As part of our mission to reimagine Australia’s economic future, The Next Economy will co-host Sandrine Dixson-Declève, co-president of the Club of Rome and Executive Chair of Earth4All, during her visit to Australia this October.
Dixson-Declève is an internationally renowned thought leader. She leads the Club of Rome’s Earth4All program and recently co-founded the System Transformation Hub.
Among her many appointments, Dixson-Declève serves as an ambassador for the Wellbeing Alliance (WEAll) – an international collaboration working to transform the economic system co-founded by The Next Economy’s very own Dr Katherine Trebeck.
Read more about The Next Economy’s work on economic systems change:
In a time when Earth has crossed multiple planetary boundaries and inequality is driving instabilities in societies worldwide, Dixson-Declève offers vital insights into how we can navigate these challenges.
Sandrine Dixson-Declève, head of the Club of Rome, will visit Australia in October 2024
Trebeck, TNE’s Economic Change Lead, said: “Sandrine’s visit comes at a crucial time for Australia. Debates around our emissions, our energy future, housing, and the cost of living are raging, but they often miss a critical element: what sort of economy needs to be built to enable the society we want on the planet we need?
“Sandrine has an incredible vantage point on this question and does not just offer a reality check on the implausibility of business as usual. She brings a suite of ideas for change and examples of tangible hope.”
Opportunities to hear from and meet Sandrine while she is in Australia include:
Canberra: Wednesday 23 October (6 to 7pm AEDT), ANU’s Planetary Health Equity Hothouse will host a public lecture.Register
Online via Zoom: Thursday 24 October (11am AEDT), Dixson-Declève joins The Australia Institute to explore critical issues and her work on Earth for All, a survival guide to humanity. Register
Melbourne: On Monday 28 October (5.30 to 7.30pm AEDT), join Dixson-Declève and the Centre for Policy Development at the State Library of Victoria. Register
MORE than 85 passionate community members have come together to explore ways to future-proof communities as part of Hay and Carrathool Shire Council’s Resilient Economy Roadmap Project.
The workshops – held in Hay, Rankins Springs, Hillston, Carrathool, Goolgowi and Merriwagga in late June – built on the picture of the region in NSW’s Riverina painted through earlier discussions, workshops and a community survey under the Roadmap project.
Alison McLean, Executive Manager – Economic Development and Tourism at Hay Shire Council said: “From farmers to business owners, grandparents to students, it was great to see such a diverse, passionate range of people show up with a wealth of knowledge and skills and ready to connect with one another and help bring about positive change.
“Together, they worked to identify common challenges, such as strengthening pathways into local employment, as well as opportunities that have the greatest potential to strengthen resilience across the region like diversifying our regional economy and continuing to grow the next generation of community leaders.”
Participants also identified strategies and actions councils, businesses, industries and communities can take over the next decade to leverage new opportunities, address current and emerging challenges and prepare for any future disruptions or change.
Of the experience, one participant noted: “The genuine buy in and contribution from the community members was invaluable”. Another said: “Our region has an optimistic ability to accept change and drive opportunities”.
Insights from the workshops will directly inform the development of the Resilient Economy Roadmap to be delivered in late 2024. Feedback on a draft Roadmap will be sought from the community in the coming months.
McLean added: “I can’t thank participants enough for their time and invaluable knowledge and insights. The voices of the community are vital in the success of this project – and the future of our region.”
The Resilient Economy Roadmap initiative is a collaboration between Hay and Carrathool Shire councils, The Next Economy, The Australian Resilience Centre, and communities across the region. Running from March to October 2024, it is funded jointly by the Australian Government and NSW’s Future Drought Fund and is part of the Regional Drought Resilience Planning Program.
To stay up to date on the project, follow the Resilient Economy Roadmap Facebook page. For further project information, please contact j.bell@nexteconomy.com.au
Have you ever wondered how inclusive the clean energy workforce is – or could be?
Australia is now firmly in the implementation phase of the energy transition, with more and more employment opportunities in the clean energy workforce. In fact, nearly half a million workers are projected to be needed to reach Australia’s 2030 renewable energy target alone.
The Next Economy is working with a range of stakeholders to explore how to expand the renewable energy workforce to include people who often face systemic barriers to employment. Specifically, in regions with growing demands for workers in clean energy.
The Inclusive Clean Energy Workforce (ICEW) project aims to ignite discussion about how we can work together to enhance diversity, equity and inclusion.
Our current discussion paper captures pivotal themes and insights drawn from a desktop review of literature and interviews with stakeholders across the clean energy sector, social services and employment sectors.
In mid-July 2024, we’re hosting a range of workshops to get feedback on this initial piece of work and to dive deeper into opportunities and practical strategies to enhance diversity, equity and inclusion in the clean energy workforce.
Opportunities and insights will be captured and shared in a series of sector resources and webinars in the second half of 2024.
Early findings and key points:
Every Australian deserves access to the benefits of clean energy development, including new and existing jobs required for the workforce
The current clean energy sector can improve on diversity, equity and inclusion despite already outperforming other energy sectors including coal and gas
Greater diversity, equity and inclusion not only improves outcomes for individuals, but also can for companies, communities, the sector and the economy
From access to training and education to workplace culture characteristics, there are several systemic, cultural and broader factors and barriers marginalised groups face accessing jobs in the clean energy workforce
Working together, stakeholders from industry, education and training, and civil society can enhance diversity, equity and inclusion in the clean energy workforce
If you’re interested in finding out more, or want to share your insights with us, please contact Jacqui Bell.
We ask Dr Katherine Trebeck, Economic Change Lead at The Next Economy
In a nutshell, what is a wellbeing economy?
An economy designed deliberately to work for people and the planet, not the other way around as so often seems to be the case today. It’s about creating a context in which people thrive, first time around, rather than having to deploy loads of resources trying to fix and repair after damage has been done. This means initiatives that speak to the purpose of the economy, prevention, predistribtion (not just redistribution), and a people powered economy.
So, it requires thinking about what activities we need more of because they help create that context and finding ways to expand those activities: being selective about what is growing, rather than pursuit of any sort of growth.
Are there any examples of using this framework successfully? If so, how?
Think about the wellbeing economy not so much as a framework, but more as a paradigm. It requires a substantial shift in how the economy is thought about and approached. It is about seeing the economy as a mechanism to meet our real goals, and certainly not something to which all other goals are subservient. Not only are we seeing a growing conversation and emerging such as the Wellbeing Economy Alliance initiatives where people are coming together to promote the agenda or its component parts, but there are loads of examples of governments and enterprises making the sort of changes that are necessary. For example:
Multidimensional measurement dashboards (Australia’s Measuring What Matters statement is an example of this) and support for social enterprises (the recently announced Social Enterprise Development Initiative, for example)
Circular economy production and public transport systems
Community or worker owned businesses such as the Earth Worker Cooperative in Victoria
Considering the environmental cost of the things we buy.
The challenge is that while there is no shortage of examples, often they are the exception that proves the rule. One nice illustration of the potential for this is seen in the Community Wealth Building work happening in places like Cleveland in the US and in Preston in the UK (plus in various parts of Australia too). In Preston, there has been research which shows the council’s efforts to procure locally, to support local businesses and local employment has meant the local economy has been more resilient, but also people’s mental health and reported personal wellbeing has improved.
How might the principles of a wellbeing economy help address current challenges posed by high cost of living pressures?
A key feature of a wellbeing economy approach is to look at the root causes of an issue, and not just respond crisis to crisis, symptom to symptom.
So in terms of cost-of-living pressures and high housing costs as a key part of that, a wellbeing economy approach would entail examining the way the housing market operates – who owns the houses? What taxes and incentives encourage the sort of ownership patterns that are forcing up prices? Why aren’t there more community housing cooperatives and other modes of providing housing in Australia?
It would then step back and reflect on what the ultimate goal is – shelter for people in Australia’s towns and cities. It would then think about what needs to change in the economy for more people to have access to good quality shelter – perhaps that means shifting taxes to discourage people owning more and more homes as investment devices? Perhaps that means changing planning laws to enable more community groups to co-own housing? Perhaps that means ensuring homes are built with high energy efficiency standards so once people move into them, they aren’t spending huge amounts on heating and cooling them.
And speaking of energy efficiency, a wellbeing economy approach is also about being ambitious for flow-on benefits – so if housing is being built, can it help address environmental challenges by needing less carbon and using more recycled materials? Can it help address equity and inclusion by being built by companies employing local people, which have gender balance in their teams, and which pay living wages etc? And can it help roll out models of enterprise that have a social purpose at their heart, so could the houses be owned by a housing cooperative?
How might Australia adopt a wellbeing economy framework? What are the steps that need to happen?
There’s a precondition for government acting – that’s people talking about it, and being able to imagine an economy that serves them, not the other way around: an economy that doesn’t generate so much inequality and put so much pressure on the planet. That will be helped by learning about examples of this in practice, even in small scale. Then policy makers need to step in to design the rules of the game so those good examples are common place.
What would a state or federal budget for a wellbeing economy look like?
It would use things like taxes and subsidies to support the sort of activities which are good for people and planet, and to discourage those that aren’t. In other words, it would ask what we need more of and how can mechanisms in the budget help cultivate them?
With the support of the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation, The Next Economy is convening an ‘Upstream Lab’ to explore the economic root causes of many of today’s challenges, including how to take action where there is scope to prevent harm happening in the first place. More details to come as we roll out this exciting initiative.
Co-hosted by Melbourne Climate Futures on 17 February 2022, The Next Economy organised an International Roundtable which brought together over 40 leading Australian, German and Polish thinkers who are deeply engaged in the question of how we manage change in the energy sector.
A major new report from The Next Economy released today has found that regional Australia is undergoing an economic transformation, with historical coal and gas heartlands like Central Queensland, The Hunter Valley and the Latrobe Valley in pole position to capitalise on the global shift to net zero emissions – with appropriate Federal Government leadership, investment and support.
For‘What regions need on the path to net zero’,The Next Economy engaged with over 500 people and organisations across regional Queensland, NSW, Victoria, WA and the NT to assess the support communities with close ties to fossil fuels need to manage the inevitable and accelerating transition to net zero emissions.
Participants included representatives of government, the energy sector, diverse industries, unions, economic development agencies, social services, universities and training institutions, Traditional Owners and First Nations groups, community members and environment organisations.
The research revealed a high level of consensus on a key theme – greater leadership is needed from the Federal Government, revolving around three key calls to action:
An honest conversation: The Federal Government must be open and honest about what the changing energy system means for regional Australia.
A clear, well resourced plan: The Federal Government needs to put in place the appropriate targets, policies and regulatory frameworks to guide investment, and to ensure that regional workers and communities are not left behind – such as a national transition authority.
A strong democracy: The Federal Government must put in place measures to improve the health of our democracy – such as protection of public servants and decision-making from political interference, banning political donations, and a national corruption watchdog.
Dr Amanda Cahill, CEO of The Next Economy, said “The discussion about energy futures in regional Australia has changed dramatically since the federal election in 2019.
“When we started our consultations two and a half years ago, most people were questioning the whole concept of the energy transition. Now people see that things are changing quickly, with early closure announcements for coal plants, our trading partners increasing their climate ambitions and the rapid expansion of renewable energy projects across the country. They want to see a clear plan and support so they can manage these changes.
“If we want to take advantage of the wide range of new economic opportunities available – in renewable energy generation and storage, the mining and processing of critical minerals needed for renewable energy, and the manufacturing of projects like green hydrogen, batteries, renewable energy components, biofuels and other products – we need to act now.
“Business has been leading the way in terms of investing in the new industries we need to develop to reduce our dependence on coal and gas export revenue. But it’s not enough and even industry players are now calling on the Federal Government for greater policy certainty and new regulatory frameworks to ensure that development is done well and actually benefits regions over the long term.”
“The new federal government has a lot of work to do”, Dr Cahill said. “I hope it shows the leadership and vision to grasp this once-in-a-generation opportunity, and to step up to the task of supporting our regions as the energy system changes.”
Contact us for a copy of the report.
To view our presentation of the report, click below to watch our webinar on Wednesday, 11 May where we were joined by Professor John Wiseman and Dr Gareth Edwards, followed by a Q&A session with participants.
Turmoil and uncertainty seem to abound everywhere we look as people feel increasingly insecure about their futures and grieve the loss of faith in our crumbling institutions. But what if the current disruptions to our political, economic and social systems hold the potential for the emergence of an economy that can not only provide for the wellbeing of all people, but is centred on tackling the biggest ecological challenges that threaten our very existence? What would this regenerative economy look like and where is it emerging across the world? And what would it take to tackle the political dynamics in this country that continue to relegate so many positive initiatives to the margins?
Hosted by Morag Gamble, global permaculture ambassador, Sense Making in a Changing World explores ‘What Now?’ – what is the kind of thinking we need to navigate a positive and regenerative way forward, what does a thriving one-planet way of life look like, where should we putting our energy?
Hosted by Morag Gamble, global permaculture ambassador, Sense Making in a Changing World explores ‘What Now?’ – what is the kind of thinking we need to navigate a positive and regenerative way forward, what does a thriving one-planet way of life look like, where should we putting our energy?
Impact Gathering: Supporting Women In Impact-Led Business
Impact Boom helps people and organisations unleash their greatest potential to create positive social impact. They work across the ecosystem to create the right conditions, resources, tools and programs to help people tackle social and environmental challenges, changing the world for the better.
Dr Amanda Cahill On Proactively Addressing Community Issues & Acting On Climate Change
Impact Boom helps people and organisations unleash their greatest potential to create positive social impact. They work across the ecosystem to create the right conditions, resources, tools and programs to help people tackle social and environmental challenges, changing the world for the better.
Robert Pekin & Emma-Kate Rose On Cultivating Community Driven Social Enterprise
Impact Boom helps people and organisations unleash their greatest potential to create positive social impact. They work across the ecosystem to create the right conditions, resources, tools and programs to help people tackle social and environmental challenges, changing the world for the better.
We know that social change happens when ordinary people start having conversations with those they know and trust.
In this Towards 2040 webinar series, Amanda Cahill talks to a range of experts to explore how we can have the most effective conversations about climate change to take actions that will inspire others and in a way that empowers people to take action.
Episode 16 of Morag Gamble’s podcast Our Permaculture Life
The Next Economy CEO Amanda Cahill shares a conversation with Morag Gamble exploring leadership, transition, power, way-finding, change and resilience.
