As part of an ambitious strategy to accelerate the net zero transition in Australia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific, new roles take a system and country perspective.

In 2015, nations agreed in Paris to limit global temperature rise to well below 2 degrees Celsius, and to strive for 1.5 degrees. To achieve this goal, the United Nations has found that global emissions must halve this decade and again the next. That means action on climate needs to increase significantly. In response to this need, Climateworks has changed the way we operate. We are utilising systems change to ‘scale up’ our work, team and outputs. 

Part of this is the introduction of some new teams. The International and Country Context team is led by Meg Argyriou, former Head of International Programs. The team is responsible for identifying opportunities for system change influence both nationally and internationally by building relationships, utilising policy expertise and engaging in research collaborations. Country leads in the team support our program and project teams through their expertise in the context of specific nations, providing evidence-based policy insights.

Anna Malos moves  to the role of Country Lead for Australia.

Anna is a long standing member of the Climateworks team. Her wealth of experience in climate change and policy gives her optimism about generating change in Australia: ‘State and territory governments are stepping up in a way I haven’t seen for more than a decade’. In this role, Anna leads a group of experts that provide strategic advice.

Guntur Sutiyono has been appointed to the role of Country Lead for Indonesia.

Guntur has been bolstered by the Indonesian government’s recent raising of ambition for climate action: ‘Experts in Indonesia have the capability to produce science that backs up an ambitious scenario, and the government has gradually trusted the science more’. And the shift is not just in the public sector. The finance sector, and some parts of industry, are getting on board too. Guntur says ‘they are more aware of climate change, and want to change themselves. We need to give these champions more bandwidth, hear what they need’. 

If the current focus on climate action is maintained, Guntur believes Indonesia can reach net zero by 2050, or even before: ‘There is a good momentum from the top down. Government is pushing mindset changes in important sectors such as land use, energy and transport’. Challenges come in the form of ‘distractions motivated by short-sighted political and economic interests – we cannot afford inconsistencies in policy direction’.

On the role of the country content team for Indonesia, Guntur says ‘The team is increasingly aware that we are here to support the raising of global climate targets. Indonesia is an important country at a crossroads, between raising its ambition or remaining conservative with it. Its economy size and market means that we can drive economies of scale of innovation, technology, and policy in the region. By collaborating with others, we contribute in changing the system and mindset of public and private actors that raising climate ambition fits with Indonesia’s development goals and cements its regional leadership.

Guntur’s team in Indonesia will be crucial to supporting the work of our newest system lead for energy. 

Emi Gui has been appointed to the role of System Lead for Energy. 

Emi views the energy system as very significant in reducing emissions: ‘Energy systems underpin a country’s basic and strategic functions, economic activities and social development. But this means it can easily become the top emitting sector.’

As technology advances, the energy system increasingly becomes interlinked with other sectors – such as transport, the built environment, industry and more. Emi thinks that choices can be made to facilitate a cleaner, more efficient, equitable, and affordable energy transition for Australia and Southeast Asia. Climateworks is actively involved in the low-carbon energy transition discussion with both government and industry stakeholders, and looks forward to deepening these relationships.

On growing a team to support the energy system transition, Emi says ‘Although energy at its core is a socio-technical system, it is also intrinsically connected to a country’s political, economic, and ecological systems. The complex and dynamic nature of the energy system and energy market require a multidimensional and multidisciplinary approach to induce system level change. Innovative thinking, solid technical and sectoral expertise, and collaborative spirit are needed to place us in a strong position to tackle this complex challenge’.  

Find out more about the Climateworks team.