The world is undergoing an energy transition, which is, in its broadest sense, the shift away from fossil fuels to low carbon or no carbon fuels. Australia only began its energy transition in earnest under the current government. For Australia to reach net zero by 2050 there will need to be a massive pivot with Australia’s energy transition needing to be completed within the next two to three decades. The challenge for Australia is huge. In the words of Dr. Alan Finkel, "the task ahead is, quite simply, immense."

Australia’s energy transition will cost between AU $700 billion to AU$2 trillion out to 2050. Foreign investment will be essential to achieve this energy transition. Foreign investment is integral to the Australian economy: as a resource rich country with a relatively high demand for capital and a small population, Australia relies on foreign investment to finance the shortfall between national investment and national savings. However, over the past decade, Australia’s foreign investment regime has progressively tightened, largely in response to heightened geopolitical tensions. This ‘ratcheting up’ of Australia’s foreign investment regime has made it more difficult to attract the necessary investment at precisely the time when foreign investment is needed for Australia’s energy transition.

The focus of this thesis is on Australia’s energy transition and the investment needed for that transition. It will examine Australia’s foreign investment regime through a multidisciplinary perspective and will answer the question of:

What approach in Australia’s foreign investment regime would facilitate investment in Australia’s energy transition while balancing security concerns?

This seminar is Maureen's Confirmation of Candidature milestone presentation. As such, the presentation is a closed event for RegNet staff, visitors and students only.

About the speaker

Maureen Klar has worked extensively in investment law and policy, serving as a trade negotiator at DFAT, where she led negotiations of bilateral and plurilateral investment treaties for Australia. During this time she was invited to chair the OECD Investment Committee on the reform of bilateral investment treaties. She currently works in the Green Economy Branch of DFAT, where her work complements her PhD research on investment in Australia’s energy transition - a topic she is passionate about. Before DFAT, Maureen spent a decade as an Assistant Professor, teaching International Law, International Environmental Law, Trade Law and Intellectual Property Law.

COVID protocols

The ANU strongly encourages you to keep a mask with you at all times (for use when COVID-19 safe behaviours are not practicable) and to be respectful of colleagues, students and visitors who may wish to continue to wear one. Please continue to practice good hygiene. If you are unwell, please stay home. The ACT government’s COVID Smart behaviours can be accessed here.

This seminar presentation is in-person only. Registration is not required for in-person attendance as neither the ANU nor ACT Health conduct contact tracing any longer.

If you require accessibility accommodations or a visitor Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan please email regnet.communications@anu.edu.au.

Image credit:  Illustration of icons signifying environmental, social and governance themes orbiting a globe of the earth in the shape of a light bulb by Dee karen, used under Adobe Education License