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The Governing Energy Transitions (GET) Lab at the Australian National University is a home for researchers, policymakers and advocates seeking to advance the politics and governance of a clean energy transition. Global in focus and interdisciplinary in practice, its members’ research and teaching is driven by a desire to improve our understanding of the political and governance barriers to decarbonising our society. With scholars from across the social sciences, including political science, international relations, sociology, economics and law, our aim is to develop new strategies that address the complex governance challenges of the energy transition.

GET Lab is directed by Associate Professor Christian Downie.

Members also pursue projects across a range of related topics, including trade, intellectual property, international standards, Indigenous land and resource management, forestry, sub-national energy governance, and energy justice among others.

This work has been funded by the Australian Government, the Australian Research Council, business organizations, and philanthropic foundations.

Members of the lab meet regularly to discuss research and policy ideas and explore the latest research. If you are interested in participating, please contact Christian Downie (christian.downie@anu.edu.au)

Hero image by Riccardo Annandale on Unsplash

Researchers
Rebecca Byrnes_RegNet

Rebecca Byrnes

School of Regulation & Global Governance
Nikolai Drahos_RegNet

Nikolai Drahos

School of Regulation & Global Governance
Hannah Lord_RegNet

Hannah Lord

School of Regulation & Global Governance

Centre news
On
Image: Seagul from Pixabay
Image: Seagul from Pixabay

Systems under strain
RegNet’s Lee White and ANU Energy Change Institute’s Thomas Longden join Sharon Bessell and Arnagretta Hunter on Policy Forum Pod to discuss the importance of equitable energy policies.
Photo by Jeremy Bezanger on Unsplash
Photo by Jeremy Bezanger on Unsplash

Booming contributions by first nations to address Australia’s environmental crisis must be recognised
Emeritus Professor Jon Altman co-authored this piece with Heidi Norman, Bhiamie Williamson and Francis Markham following the release of the State of the Environment 2021 report
Image: Matt Palmer on Unsplash
Image: Matt Palmer on Unsplash

Christian Downie on Australia's position at COP26
Associate Professor Christian Downie shares his concerns that Australia is not doing enough to tackle climate change as world leaders gather for COP26.
Image: RawFilm (Unsplash)
Image: RawFilm (Unsplash)

We could be a superpower: 3 ways Australia can take advantage of the changing geopolitics of energy
The International Energy Agency confirmed last week what many already knew: the world is undergoing a huge transformation in global energy markets.

Current projects
On
climate finance
Climate Finance

Climate finance initiative

Only a rapid transition to a low carbon economy will prevent dangerous climate change and its catastrophic consequences. Achieving such a transition will require vast amounts of finance (some US$7.7 trillion per year) for climate action: finance which only the private sector has the ability to provide. But scaling up climate finance — for low-carbon infrastructure, renewable energy, energy efficiency and other mitigation measures — would involve transforming a finance sector that has only recently begun its journey towards sustainability.

Completed projects
On
Gas pipelines

Business battles in the US energy sector: lessons for a cleaner world

If the world is to achieve a clean energy revolution the role of the US will be crucial. Not only does the US have enormous global influence, but it is also the largest producer of oil and gas with the largest reserves of coal on the planet. However, it is hard to imagine an energy revolution in the US taking place without the support of business.
Video and audio recordings
Contact Associate Professor Downie at christian.downie@anu.edu.au