Our Programs
CENPCT focuses on action research - a style of research that seeks transformative real-world change by actively being involved in challenges on the ground, conducting research throughout that involvement, and critically reflecting along the way.
We are able to conduct research in this unique way by working with partners who are decision makers or key actors in driving solutions in their specific communities, ecosystems, locales, areas, or sectors. Partner-identified projects enable us to resource communities, industry, NGOs and government with the expertise needed to support nature-positive climate transitions.
CENPCT aims to map and guide Australia’s pathway to becoming nature-positive through innovation and translation across three programs, or areas of focus: Energy Transitions, Urban Adaptation, and Landscape Transitions.
These programs are designed to be delivered by transdisciplinary teams who prioritise understanding context, envisioning futures, mobilising change, and iterative learning. Each project and program is contingent on rigorous monitoring, evaluation and learning so we can track impact, report to partners, and inform overarching CENPCT research objectives.
Learn more about these programs through case studies the Centre is planning to advance with partners, below.
Program 1: Energy Transitions
How can all parties involved in the lands, communities and resources that house energy, adequately consider and address cumulative impacts of renewable energy transitions, yet also upscale rapidly and cost-effectively? New renewable energy infrastructure systems must be planned carefully to conserve nature, culture and agriculture. Developing standards and incentives for businesses that drive nature-positive renewable energy projects is an immense challenge and opportunity for the sector.
Working with partners in energy development, the Clean Energy Council, government, NRM Regions Australia, consultancy, and First Nations partners across the Victorian, New South Wales and Queensland renewable energy zones, our action-research case studies are focused on designing siting cost optimisation that protects nature and culture, researching and demonstrating energy project developments that regenerate nature, and developing industry standards and guidance that shows where and how to develop nature-positive energy infrastructure.
Program 2: Urban Adaptation
How can modern cities use urban environmental innovations to boost biodiversity? The global urban population is projected to increase by 2.5 billion people over the next 30 years, and urbanisation is already one of the defining transformations of the 21st century. Climate change is posing unprecedented challenges to city liveability through urban heat, drought, flooding, storms and increased fire risk. CENPCT researchers propose that nature-based solutions could deliver sustainable and resilient outcomes and help tackle looming extinction and liveability crises in many cities.
We foster action-research in climate-adapted urban and peri-urban precinct design, planning and development in selected cities in Australia. Drawing on a rich bank of data from prior projects, our research focuses on optimising adaptation strategies to achieve healthy, liveable, nature-rich environments: delivering biodiversity growth, heat mitigation, flood control and liveability in cities. Research will engage those who know these places best, and engage with urban-scapes on a daily, and historical, basis: Traditional Custodians, urban developers, local community, and government.
Program 3: Landscape Transitions
Australia’s landscapes are facing intensifying pressures on multiple fronts. Climate mitigation and adaptation are driving major changes in how land is used. Increased frequency of flood, fire, drought are placing pressure on nature, agriculture and the places all beings live. Pressures are exacerbated by urban expansion, energy infrastructure transformation, agricultural intensification, and extraction of new minerals. How can communities, researchers, and markets identify solutions that integrate truly nature-positive outcomes and social justice, and work with and for local communities and ecosystems, to enable just transitions?
Guided by First Nations caring for Country partners, regional NRM bodies, local and state government, landcare, land managers, conservation organisations, we will drive the co-design of landscape-focused nature-positive climate mitigation and adaptation.
Action-research case studies will include cultural land management for climate adaptation on Bundjalung Country (northern NSW), nature-positive carbon landscapes in Western NSW, and navigating financial disclosures for climate and nature risk for companies and organisations that manage and depend on landscapes.
Program Outcomes
These programs are legacies. They will be used as exemplars and practical evidence to develop scaleable models that flexibly account for the local contexts within which climate transition challenges present throughout community and sector networks.
Our program outputs will include a wide range of tools, strategies, and transition mechanisms, co-designed with partners for immediate uptake. Providing tools, guidelines and case studies to support renewable energy infrastructure development and biodiverse carbon sequestration can feed immediately into business and landholder decisions, market and regulatory design, and, through working with communities, lay the groundwork for reduced political and policy resistance over these issues, and more evidence-based direct action.
Alongside these programs, the Centre is also designed to deliver specific support for and advancement of our transition focuses through the EMCR Nature Academy, and our responsive Policy and Innovation Lab.
