The world saw rapid and profound changes in 2024. The election of President Trump for a second term in the US, multiple conflicts and disappointing international climate negotiations cast a shadow over mitigation efforts. In Australia, new fossil fuel developments and lack of rapid progress on emissions reductions outside of the electricity supply sector continue to put our climate ambitions at risk - though development of net zero sector plans and strategies, and ambitions for green energy and commodity exports are pointing in the right direction. 

Meanwhile, the world’s window for action is narrowing. The record for the hottest year was beaten again, with global mean surface air temperature consistently over 1.5 degrees of warming above pre-industrial temperatures. Heatwaves in Spain disrupted global olive oil supplies, while floods in Dubai produced surreal images of deserts turned into lakes. However, 2024 also saw some encouraging developments. Electric vehicle sales surged both in Australia and globally, while renewable energy supply continues its rapid growth, and new industrial decarbonisation opportunities are coming into reach, along with further climate finance progress and development of a global green economy.

At ICEDS, we continued advancing innovative solutions to climate change, the energy transition and disaster risk reduction. Our interdisciplinary approach brings together experts across The Australian National University (ANU) to deliver research, teaching, outreach and engagement. Some 2024 research highlights include our work developing a climate adaptation AI tool that unlike generic AI tools, only uses peer-reviewed articles as source material. Another was collaborating with ANU School of Art and Design for interdisciplinary approaches to relocating communities in disaster-prone areas. In energy, researchers collaborated on projects to understand how Australia can realise its potential to become major green energy and commodity exporter, including through green iron. ANU is a Heavy Industry Low-Carbon Transition Cooperative Research Centre core partner with longer term research projects supported by external partners underway.

We continued our engagement with policymakers, journalists, academics and the broader public. During 2024 we hosted 27 events attracting more than 3,000 attendees. We held the Will Steffen Lecture, honouring the life and work of the internationally esteemed expert in climate change research and founding director of the ANU Climate Change Institute. We addressed difficult climate disaster financing questions in the 2024 Disaster Update Who pays for disasters and how? Our 2024 Energy Update, opened by Climate Change Authority Chair the Hon Matt Kean, addressed the net zero transition in industry and in regional areas, questions at the forefront of both academics’ and policymakers’ minds. ICEDS staff and members authored nine submissions to government or other inquiries alongside an increase from 20,500 media mentions to over 25,000.

ICEDS continued delivering highly regarded professional short courses with the latest climate, energy and disaster research being shared directly with hundreds of decision makers. This included longer format courses with specialised content for Indian Ocean Rim Association regional representatives, an ACT pilot of our Climate Essentials for Educators, and development of a Pacific Climate Security short course for rollout in 2025.

This year marks the end of the first phase of ICEDS since it formed from a merger of the Climate Change Institute, the Energy Change Institute and the Disaster Risk Science Institute in 2021. The intervening four years have seen the Institute emerge as a leading Australian centre taking an integrated approach to the triple challenge of addressing climate change, the energy transition and disaster solutions. The Institute will continue evolving in 2025 under new leadership, as Director and Head of Climate Professor Mark Howden, Head of Disaster Solutions Associate Professor Roslyn Prinsley, and Head of Energy Professor Frank Jotzo step down. 

We are proud to share a selection of the University’s world-leading work. On behalf of the Institute, we thank you for your support in 2024 and encourage your continued engagement with ANU on this vital work.

Professor Mark Howden, Director & Head of Climate  

Professor Frank Jotzo, Head of Energy, and  

Associate Professor Roslyn Prinsley, Head of Disaster Solutions

Dr Steve Crimp, Deputy Head of Climate 

ANU Institute for Climate, Energy and Disaster Solutions (ICEDS)