BU

THE IDEALISTIC REALIST

LDI NG SUSTAINABITITY LEADERS

/^lompletely decarbonising our coal-rich nation by 2020 might be seen as an idealistic

\rtnotion, but not to Matthew Wright. As co-founder of the NGO Beyond Zero Emissions.

he has provided insight into an Australian future powered only by renewable energy.

As challenging as this may be for some policymakers and industry players, Wright still

considers himself very much a realist.,,we look at how to get to a completely decarbonised economy as cheaply as we can by

using international off-the-shelf technology," he says.

since BZE doesn't receive any government or industry funding, relying on donations

alone, Wright says the biggest achievement So far has been to provide a research-based

transition plan for Australia's energy future.

This plan, Zero Carbon Australia 2020 was started as an initiative

of BZE and the Climate Emergency Network with support from

Climate Positive. ZCA is now a research collaboration between BZE

and the University of lvlelbourne Energy Research lnstitute.

Work on the plan commenced in early 2009 and encompasses

stationary energy, transport, housing and construction, land use,

industrial processes and replacing coal export revenue. Version one

of the stationary energy plan has been published.

AsLde from its research contribution, perhaps one of the most

interesting aspects of BZE is the organisation itself. Over the last six years it has attracted

more than 500 volunteers working on a renewable energy future, simply because "they love it", Wright says.

ln fact, Wright says people are also willing to get paid less to work in the renelvable energy sector.

"Wherever we meet people, if they're working in professional services, engineering or coal mining you can

cut their pay by $20-30,000 and they would still come to a renewable job."

The efforts by Wright and his team of supporters do certainly get attention br: "'

l! it be enough for them

to reallse their dream of decarbonising Australia? Wright reckons if we don t ge: i^e'e 6y 2020, then 2025

would stiil be an achievement.

JUNE 2012 : WME magazine

" Th" Centre for Sustainability Leadership is very much aligned with the Leaders List in

I wanting to identify, recognise and improve the leadership capability of the sector,"

CSL director Fergus Green tells WME.

"somethingthat's importantto us is recognisingthat leadership is not always about a

position of authority ... it's about recognisingthe environmental challenges we face and

doing something about them - and anybody can do that."

Green would know the benefits of the centre's unique model, being a graduate of

its program. Coupled with his legal qualifications, he is able to volunteer his time and

experience to a range of NGOs tackling the sustainability agenda.

ln 2009, Green volunteered for Project Survival Pacific to support the interests of

small Pacific lsland states in the Copenhagen negotiations. His style of leadership and

commitment helps raise awareness of the need to promote well-designed public policies

and farsighted private sector leadership in addressing sustainability challenges'

To tead in the field of sustainability, Green believes in the need to take a long-term view

to engender collaboration between industry sectors and levels of government. Having a

"dynamic and fluid" view of leadership also helps alongwith the abilityto be innovative"

The CSts fellowship program attracts a wide variety of participants

with differing views on sustainability. "lt's a contested space; we

value the learning and development that comes from putting people

with different views but shared values together," he says.

"We encourage people to develop their own projects, sometimes

within or organisation, sometimes less formal, and that has been

an enormous success in helping people.." to step out and do

something differently."

One success that comes to mind for Green is a group that began

with help from CSL and has since flowered, using social media to better engage people, mainly young

people, in the Political Process.

When it comes to being recognised as a leader himself, Green says: "lt was a real thrill to win; I

was honoured to be nominated amongst what was a stellar cast. "l'll keep doing what l'm doing, it's a

challenging field to work in but you have to keep working at it."

FERGUS GREENOutfit: Centre for Sustainability Leadership

Position: Chair

MATTHEW WRIGHTOutfit: Beyond Zero EmissionsPosition: Executive director

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