Sustainable Economy
The Sustainable Economy Program focuses on policy ideas and partnerships to build a more environmentally and socially sustainable economy. Australia has a tremendous opportunity to leverage its abundant natural resources, wealth and creativity to build a fair, sustainable and prosperous economy – one that provides a secure future for all Australians. But this can only happen if the right policy settings are in place, and if both private and public actors are focussed on the things that really drive risk, growth and wellbeing in the long term.
In recent years, our Sustainable Economy Program research has helped drive a major shift in how Australian business, investors and regulators are responding to long-term challenges and opportunities stemming from climate change and sustainable finance. We have also continued longer-term research on energy, sustainable agriculture and the national security implications of climate change. Please read on below for more information about our work.

Experts
Sam Mostyn (Board Member)
Expertise
Business & sustainable development; climate change; international development
Richard Bolt
Expertise
Economic development; governance; sustainable public value; energy; transport; education
Professor Roy Green (Research Committee)
Expertise
Innovation policy and management, industry and labour market analysis, business education
Professor John Wiseman
Expertise
Climate change impacts & policies; sustainability & resilience challenges & strategies; just transitions to zero carbon economy
Latest Articles

Climate & Recovery Initiative Roundtable Eight
Lachlan Williams - April 2022
Climate and Recovery Initiative Roundtable Eight, from Centre for Policy Development and ClimateWorks Centre. Part of the Sustainable Economy Program at the Centre for Policy Development.
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Who’s buying? – Centre for Policy Development
Jeremy McEachern - January 2022
Who’s buying? in the media AFR and ABC both covered the release of the report Toby Phillips appeared on ABC News and AM to discuss the report’s findings It was...
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Seventh Climate & Recovery Initiative stakeholder roundtable
Jeremy McEachern - November 2021
The seventh roundtable of the Climate and Recovery Initiative, on Friday 19 November 2021, was held directly after a public forum on Climate, Capital Markets and Global Governance. The UNFCCC...
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VIDEO & TRANSCRIPT: Climate Risk, Capital Markets and Global Governance
Lachlan Williams - November 2021
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CPD’s Upcoming Public Forum: Climate, Capital Markets and Global Governance
Georgia Wilkinson - November 2021
On behalf of the Climate & Recovery Initiative, the Centre for Policy Development and ClimateWorks Australia are pleased to invite you to participate in a virtual public forum on climate,...
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Australia’s access to capital may be strangled over climate stance
Georgia Wilkinson - October 2021
Article by Lucas Baird featuring CPD’s Climate & Recovery Initiative, published in the Australian Financial Review on 22 September 2021. Australia risks punishment from global markets that will blow out...
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Travers McLeod and Toby Phillips: Time to respond to the climate for investment
Georgia Wilkinson - September 2021
A shorter version of this op-ed was published in The Australian on 29 September 2021. While Scott Morrison met with Quad leaders at the White House last week in the...
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Sixth Climate & Recovery Initiative stakeholder roundtable
Georgia Wilkinson - September 2021
The Climate and Recovery Initiative’s sixth roundtable, held on Thursday 9 September 2021, captured a sense of urgency and momentum towards coordinated and ambitious action on climate change. Prominent leaders...
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CPD appears at the inquiry into the prudential regulation of investment in Australia’s export industries
Georgia Wilkinson - July 2021
On Wednesday 28 July 2021, CPD’s CEO Travers McLeod and Sustainable Economy Program Director Toby Phillips appeared at the inquiry into the prudential regulation of investment in Australia’s export industries....
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Fourth and fifth Climate & Recovery Initiative stakeholder roundtables
communications - June 2021
Over the first half of 2021, CPD and our partners have been continuing to convene the Climate & Recovery Initiative (CRI), bringing together senior leaders from across Australia to address...
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Zoe Whitton on Q+A
Georgia Wilkinson - May 2021
Broadcast on Thursday 20 May 2021 CPD Board Member Zoe Whitton appeared on Q+A to discuss the government’s latest plans to build a gas-fired power plant and the long-term economic...
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Arjuna Dibley: Government-owned firms like Snowy Hydro can do better than building $600 million gas plants
communications - May 2021
Published in The Conversation on 20 May 2021. The Morrison government today announced it’s building a new gas power plant in the Hunter Valley, committing up to A$600 million for...
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Tim Nelson: Australia’s states are forging ahead with ambitious emissions reductions. Imagine if they worked together
communications - May 2021
Published in The Conversation, 06 May 2021. In a recent article for The Conversation, our Research Committee Member Tim Nelson analysed how Australia’s states can better work together to reach...
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Companies warned that ‘greenwashing’ could have legal consequences
communications - April 2021
Published by RenewEconomy on Monday 26 April 2021. Company directors that rush to make net zero pledges without fully examining the firm’s ability to meet the goals could be guilty...
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Directors liable for ‘greenwashing’ disclosures
communications - April 2021
Published in the AFR on Monday 26 April 2021 Companies and their directors could be sued for “greenwashing” their commitments to achieve their net zero carbon pledges or emissions reductions...
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