Key points
- Place-based approaches help Australian communities navigate net zero transitions to support thriving local industries and communities.
- Communities are key to co-designing sustainable solutions that align with local needs and values.
- We are fostering connections between communities, industry and governments to support vibrant regional communities in the net zero transition.
The town of Whyalla is at the start of a significant net zero transition.
Whyalla sits in South Australia's Spencer Gulf. The town is a major exporter of iron and steel, and the Whyalla Steelworks is the major employer in the city. South Australia aims to reduce emission levels 50 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030. Meanwhile, they want to achieve 100 per cent net renewable electricity generation by 2027.
Partnering in place: South Australia
The path to net zero is challenging when you're home to a major multi-metallic smelter. It's even more complex with the largest lead smelter in the southern hemisphere. Net zero presents great opportunities for economic growth and innovation.
Tailored, place-based approaches can help regions like the Spencer Gulf embrace the transition. These strategies also aim to improve and diversify local industries.
What is a place-based approach?
A place-based approach tailors transition pathways to the unique needs of different regions. It’s about bringing communities closer to the whole story and co-designing solutions, whether that be through more sustainable practices or renewable energy projects.
Jody Bruce leads the Regional Transitions, within our Towards Net Zero mission.
Her team analyses sustainable growth pathways for industrial regions in collaboration with communities and businesses. They engage with regional communities to understand industry impacts. Their approach explores how the industrial sector intersects with local environments, identifying opportunities for decarbonisation and growth.
These solutions are harder to identify with national approaches.
"The success of the net zero transition is decided on the ground, in places around Australia," Jody says.
"But it is about more than reaching net zero. It's about how we get there and the communities we build. Using place as a lens helps to get the right people in the room. This allows community, industry and government to work together to support the opportunities regions are looking for."
"By focusing on local contexts, place-based initiatives can better engage communities, especially those that are often hard to reach. This includes small businesses and urban groups," Jody says.
Building a shared vision for Whyalla requires community interest, information, and involvement.
This spans individual households through to company leaders.
Science has a big role to play in ensuring everyone can make informed decisions, enabling stakeholders to feel confident about their options and sustainable practices.
Communities need support to understand the solutions we have and the paths we can take.
They also need to understand the pros and cons of each option. This is achieved through translation of science into practical actions for stakeholders.
Sustainable regions, diverse economies
As traditional, energy-intensive industries transition to net zero, supporting people in the regions is crucial. It’s important to help people find new jobs and opportunities in emerging industries. We can support this by fostering connections between businesses and communities.
This helps identify transferable skills and design essential support services. Enabling people to work, learn, and upskill locally delivers better outcomes. These benefits then extend to state and national levels. The net zero journey requires a holistic approach, identifying the key elements that build vibrant communities and regions.
Place-based approaches enable meaningful engagement with people as their region transitions. We ensure communities design their futures in line with their values. We're partnering with industrial regions to connect key stakeholders during the transition.
This will enable knowledge sharing between other regions, experts, industries and communities. We're seeking input from community leaders to inform our Industrial Regional Network. Our goal is to help create vibrant and sustainable regions with diverse economies. We want people to love where they live and work, and supporting meaningful connections between communities, industry and government will help achieve this.