MSDI co-hosts world leading economist Mariana Mazzucato
18 December 2018
Monash Sustainable Development Institute, in partnership with the Centre for Policy Development, was delighted to host Professor Mariana Mazzucato, one of the world’s most influential and forward-thinking economists, during her visit to Australia this month.
MSDI partners with McMaster University to build world's largest evidence resource for the SDGs
18 December 2018
MSDI will help expand the scope of the Social Systems Evidence repository to cover all 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
Associate Professor Becky Batagol’s life-changing work on family violence recognised in new campaign
17 December 2018
The video is part of a new campaign by Universities Australia that draws attention to the importance of university research.
BehaviourWorks Director Joins Editorial Board of Prestigious Journal
15 December 2018
Associate Professor Liam Smith has been invited onto the editorial board of the prestigious Public Administration Review.
SMART: supporting the Pacific Islands to lead the way in climate action and leadership
14 December 2018
The Pacific Islands region is responsible for just 0.03 per cent of the world's total greenhouse gas emissions, but it’s already feeling the effects of climate change. ClimateWorks Australia has developed a Strategic Mitigation Adaptation and Resilience Tool (SMART) for planning to address these challenges.
Announcing the new home for CSL alumni and programs
13 December 2018
CSL selected MSDI to take carriage of the Centre’s programs.
Radio interview: Bag ban pays dividends
10 December 2018
Kim Borg speaks with 2SER's The Wire about the 80% reduction in single-use plastic bag consumption across Australia since the ban by supermarkets earlier this year.
Gender Equality: It's everyone's business
10 December 2018
We need to think about the problems that men and women face not as competing priorities, but as part of the same toxic social problem.
Zeroing in - ClimateWorks' impact report launches
7 December 2018
ClimateWorks has launched their impact report covering the 2017-18 period.
Urban Water Cluster hosts research showcase and exhibition
7 December 2018
More than 120 guests from government, industry, NGOs and the community attended the Urban Water Cluster's research showcase and exhibition in Bogor, Indonesia.
Dr Tahl Kestin addresses Hiroshima University Symposium on SDGs
5 December 2018
MSDI’s Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) Manager, Dr Tahl Kestin, delivered a keynote address at ‘The 2nd Hiroshima University Symposium on SDGs’ in Japan on December 1.
INSPIRE: a framework to change behaviour for the better
3 December 2018
Written communications – in the form of letters, emails, notices on websites and other correspondence – oil the wheels of government, helping ensure that people comply with legislation and take actions that benefit individuals and society as a whole.
MSDI wins Research & Academia Banksia Award
30 November 2018
Monash Sustainable Development Institute has won the Research & Academia award at the 2018 Banksia Sustainability Awards.
Report finds tougher construction code could deliver big emissions savings in the top end
29 November 2018
A more stringent National Construction Code with stronger energy performance targets would reduce emissions and power bills for buildings in Northern Australia, according to a report released by MSDI’s ClimateWorks Australia and the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC).
Refreshed Green Steps program inspires young leaders
28 November 2018
In a world where climate change and social inequality are ranked by the UN, World Bank and others as some of the most challenging issues of our time, Monash has been equipping students with a unique skill set to become sustainability leaders and change agents in their careers.
Monash delegation heads to global climate change summit
28 November 2018
More than 20 Monash staff and students are heading to Poland to attend the annual United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP24).
Behaviour Change GRIP wins Monash Research Services Excellence Award
28 November 2018
The Behaviour Change Graduate Research Industry Partnership (GRIP) management team has won Monash University’s Research Services Excellence Award.
MSDI named joint winner of Green Impact program
27 November 2018
MSDI has been awarded the Monash 2018 Green Impact Overall Winners, alongside the Faculty of Pharmacy.
MSDI Champions Greater Engagement at Science Communicators Conference
27 November 2018
Monash Sustainable Development Institute Lecturer David Robertson facilitated a number of workshops at the Australian Science Communicators Tenth National Conference in November.
Associate Professor Becky Batagol Discusses Gender Equality and Sustainable Development at Monash
27 November 2018
MSDI’s Associate Professor Becky Batagol gave the keynote address at Monash’s 2018 Elimination of Violence Against Women event on November 27.
City water restrictions hurt our most vulnerable – especially women
22 November 2018
Australian women have disproportionately been affected in times of drought.
RISE breaks first ground on demonstration site in Makassar, Indonesia
21 November 2018
The MSDI-led RISE research program has achieved a significant milestone with the official groundbreaking ceremony taking place at the demonstration site in Makassar, Indonesia.
BehaviourWorks Australia has developed a game-changing framework for public administrators
16 November 2018
MSDI’s BehaviourWorks Australia has developed a ground-breaking new framework that is helping public administrators improve compliance through written communications.
New Book Sheds Light on How Victoria Has Led the Way in Road Safety
13 November 2018
From Roadside to Recovery describes how this extraordinary achievement was the product of sustained, ground-breaking and multi-faceted approaches to preventing injury, saving lives and optimising recovery.
Radio interview: From Roadside to Recovery
12 November 2018
Associate Professor Peter Bragge and Professor Russell Gruen join Jon Faine on The Conversation Hour to talk about Victoria's road trauma system
The Vatican Youth Symposium 2018
7 November 2018
On October 31 2018, SDSN Youth in partnership with the Pontifical Academy of Sciences (PAS) hosted its third annual Vatican Youth Symposium in Vatican City.
Monash hosts Professor Jeffrey Sachs in Melbourne
1 November 2018
See the highlights of this world-renowned professor of economics and leader in sustainable development's visit to Australia.
2018 Leave No One Behind winners announced
31 October 2018
Three Monash student teams are amongst the winners of this year’s Leave No One Behind social business competition.
Young MSDI researcher wins prestigious Green Talents award
22 October 2018
MSDI’s Dr Shirin Malekpour has been recognised as one of the world’s outstanding young researchers in the field of sustainable development.
Student reflections – International Conference on Sustainable Development 2018
12 October 2018
In September 2018, six Monash students attended the International Conference on Sustainable Development (ICSD) 2018 at Columbia University in New York.
Monash University leading the way in the sustainable development agenda
11 October 2018
Monash researchers and industry experts offer insights into the known solutions that will create a sustainable future.
Monash student podcast explores sustainability
1 October 2018
Master of Environment and Sustainability students Justin Lichtblau and Rosie Drew are behind a new sustainability podcast which they hope will entertain, inspire and empower people to make sustainable changes in their everyday lives.
Net Zero initiative wins global United Nations 2018 Momentum for Change Award
1 October 2018
Monash University and MSDI's ClimateWorks Australia have won the Momentum for Change Award presented by the United Nations at the Climate Week conference in New York for the Net Zero initiative.
A commitment to a sustainable future
27 September 2018
How many people think about sustainability when they’re devising strategy, thinking about threats or looking for opportunities?
ClimateWorks launches Horizon to Horizon Guide for Pacific Island Countries
25 September 2018
The Horizon to Horizon guide outlines a step by step process on achieving net zero emissions in the Pacific.
Banksia Award finalists announced
20 September 2018
MSDI and the SDSN Australia, New Zealand & Pacific have been announced as finalists in the Research & Academia category of the 2018 Banksia Sustainability Awards.
Professor Tony Wong wins IWA Global Water Award
18 September 2018
Monash Sustainable Development Institute congratulates Professor Tony Wong, who was awarded the International Water Association's prestigious 2018 Global Water Award for his influential work in water sensitive urban design.
MSDI Director Appointed Senior Vice-Provost and Vice-Provost (Research), Monash University
17 September 2018
MSDI would like to congratulate its Director, Professor Rebekah Brown, on her appointment to the position of Senior Vice-Provost and Vice-Provost (Research) of Monash University.
Monash students to attend ICSD 2018 in New York
17 September 2018
Six Monash students are preparing to pack their bags for New York to attend the International Conference on Sustainable Development (ICSD) 2018, later this month.
MSDI’s Urban Water Cluster Hosts Indonesian Delegates
10 September 2018
MSDI’s Urban Water Cluster (UWC) hosted a group of government delegates and water resource management authorities from Indonesia on a two-day visit.
Chloe Munro named on prestigious AFR Women of Influence list
10 September 2018
Monash Professorial Fellow and Australian energy expert has been featured on the list of the Australian Financial Review's 100 Women of Influence 2018.
MSDI's Dr Saba Mebrahtu Habte promotes NGO partnerships at Melbourne Development Circle event
8 September 2018
The panel explored how NGO's are adapting business practices through collaboration to achieve impact.
How Monash University helped BIGSOUND understand the nuances of cultural change through smoking
7 September 2018
BehaviourWorks explores how the Australian music industry can achieve a sustainable cultural change
Report: Tracking Progress to Net Zero Emissions
6 September 2018
A new report by ClimateWorks finds Australia is not yet on track to meet its emissions reduction targets under the Paris Agreement but there are many opportunities to still get there.
Growth without direction: How Australia measures up against UN targets
6 September 2018
A more robust and resilient Australia would be built on a broader base of industries and capabilities.
Australia is not on track to reach 2030 Paris target (but the potential is there)
6 September 2018
Australia has three times the potential needed to reach the federal government’s current 2030 target, but this will not be achieved under current policy settings.
Transforming Australia: SDG Progress Report
5 September 2018
New report launched to track Australia’s progress on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals
Australia’s UN report card: making progress, could do better on inequality and climate
5 September 2018
To achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals, Australia needs to put more emphasis on addressing critical, long-term issues like inequality and climate change.
How did Australia perform on its UN goals for a sustainable future?
4 September 2018
A report has revealed Australia's mixed progress on meeting UN goals for a sustainable future.
More work to do for Australia to meet UN goals
4 September 2018
Professor John Thwaites speaks with ABC Radio's AM on Australia's mixed progress on tracking against the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Why doesn't Victoria have a container deposit scheme?
2 September 2018
Associate Professor Peter Bragge from BehaviourWorks Australia speaks with journalist Jewel Topsfield to help us understand why we're lagging.
Sludge: How corporations nudge us into spending more
27 Aug 2018
Small changes in how choices are presented or designed can have a big impact on our behaviour.
The Conversation: How to move energy policy models beyond bias and vested interests
21 Aug 2018
Modelling should be a chance to test your assumptions, not just confirm them.
MSDI hosts world-leading collaborative democracy pioneer
17 Aug 2018
From the White House to the Monash Moot Court; Professor Beth Noveck and MSDI put democracy on trial.
Green Steps 2018
1 Aug 2018
Apply for one of 25 places in the award-winning Green Steps sustainability leadership program.
MSDI Chair addresses Global Youth Leaders Summit
3 Aug 2018
Professor John Thwaites joined Nobel Peace Prize winner Professor Muhammad Yunus and Inaugural Yidan Prize Laureate Ms Vicky Colbert, as a keynote speaker at this year’s Global Youth Leaders Summit in China.
Why Coles’ plastic bag backflip leaves us worse off than before
1 Aug 2018
Offering free lightweight plastic bags causes excessive plastic use, while banning lightweight bags can increase the use of heavier plastic bags (such as bin liners). Coles’ decision brings out the worst of both worlds.
Documentary: Death of Corporate Greed? - A Different Lens
31 July 2018
Professor Rod Glover and other Monash experts discuss how profit and ethical behaviour are no longer mutually exclusive in the business world – they must go hand-in-hand.
Podcast: Humans of Purpose - John Thwaites
30 July 2018
MSDI Chair, Professor John Thwaites speaks with Humans of Purpose podcast about MSDI, the SDGs, climate change, behaviour change and more.
Science alone can’t save us, say scientists
26 July 2018
MSDI Director, Professor Rebekah Brown featured in Cosmos Magazine for the launch of Nature Sustainability Australia.
Opting out of My Health Records? Here’s what you get with the status quo
26 July 2018
If you’re opting out of My Health Records, you’re opting in to “business as usual”. So it’s important to know what the current system looks like.
Peter Singer and Kym Peake explore the ethics of government behaviour change programs
21 July 2018
World-renowned philosopher Professor Peter Singer has told an audience of more than 300 people in Melbourne that it is the obligation of governments to influence behaviour change in positive ways, as long as they do so ethically.
Here’s a funny thing: can comedy really change our environmental behaviours?
19 July 2018
While comedy can certainly soften a message, can it really change our behaviour?
Radio interview: How to break up with plastics
16 July 2018
Kim Borg from BehaviourWorks Australia speaks Radio Adelaide about the plastic waste problem.
Why the wealthy should pay a charity levy
13 July 2018
Professor Dave Griggs and Associate Professor Liam Smith have proposed a new system for distributing wealth more evenly and help to balance social inequalities.
How to break up with plastics (using behavioural science)
13 July 2018
Single-use plastics are convenient, but it’s time to phase them out.
Radio interview: Should we have a charity levy for high-income earners?
13 July 2018
Liam Smith, Director of BehaviourWorks Australia, speaks with 6PR Perth.
Australia falls further in rankings on progress towards UN Sustainable Development Goals
11 July 2018
Australia is performing worse than most other advanced countries in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), according to the global SDG Index.
TV interview: Ride Share bike companies quit Australia
10 July 2018
PhD candidate Conor Wynn speaks with Channel 10 news in Sydney about why the share bike concept has failed in Australia.
Report: Built to Perform
3 July 2018
Energy standards in Australia’s National Construction Code must be urgently upgraded if new buildings are to be fit and ready for a zero carbon future, according to a new report prepared by ClimateWorks Australia and the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council.
BehaviourWorks Australia talks ‘Second Generation Nudges’ at behavioural science conference
2 July 2018
Associate Professor Liam Smith, Director of MSDI’s BehaviourWorks Australia was a guest speaker at the Behavioural Exchange Conference (BX2018) in Sydney.
Australia must embrace transformation for a sustainable future
19 June 2018
Australia needs to embrace transformative change if it's to meet the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. But what is transformative change and how do we achieve it?
ClearWater Masterclass Series 2018
14 June 2018
Professionals across local government, water corporations and water catchment authorities have come together for a series of 16 Masterclasses run by Monash Sustainable Development Institute (MSDI) to explore best practice in Integrated Water Management (IWM).
Report: The State of Electric Vehicles in Australia (second report)
14 June 2018
Australia’s electric vehicle industry grew slightly last year, according to this new report, released by the Electric Vehicle Council and ClimateWorks Australia.
MSDI Director Professor Rebekah Brown joins new EPA Governing Board
1 June 2018
The Governing Board was appointed by the Victorian Government earlier this year following an intensive selection process
Report: Plug & Play 2
15 May 2018
ClimateWorks Australia and Seed Advisory have released a new report with recommendations designed to improve transparency, oversight and representation of customer interests in electricity network access requirements.
SDSN Youth receives $1 million in funding
30 April 2018
The outstanding work undertaken by the student-founded SDSN Youth over the past three years has been acknowledged with an unexpected $1 million in philanthropic funding for the initiative.
Education units taught by MSDI achieve 'outstanding' status
12 April 2018
Three units taught by the broad team of Monash Sustainable Development Institute educators have been acknowledged as ‘outstanding’ in terms of overall satisfaction over 2017/18.
BehaviourWorks at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival
10 April 2018
Smart Phones, Dumb People: BehaviourWorks Australia showcases behavioural science at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
MSDI business student awarded prize in international competition
5 April 2018
MSDI business student named 2018 Aim2Flourish winner for Sustainable Development Goal #7
Rural Sri Lankan women in agriculture - joint research findings released
29 March 2018
Findings on joint research carried out by Oxfam Australia, Oxfam Sri Lanka and Monash University, on the participation of rural women in agriculture across three districts of Sri Lanka has been released.
Monash student social business competition winners announced
28 March 2018
Four teams have been awarded prize money to help launch their innovative social business ideas in Monash University’s inaugural Leave No One Behind student entrepreneurship competition.
MSDI welcomes 18 PhD candidates to Monash University
27 March 2018
MSDI has welcomed 18 new PhD candidates to Monash University as part of the Behaviour Change Graduate Industry Research Partnership (GRIP).
Event: Professor Muhammad Yunus - A World of Three Zeroes
26 March 2018
Nobel Peace Prize laureate launches his new book outlining a vision for tackling inequality, unemployment and environmental degradation.
Australian SDG Summit 2018
23 March 2018
Leaders and decision makers from over 200 government, business, civil society, academic and youth organisations from across Australia gathered in Melbourne in March 2018 for the second Australian SDG Summit.
RISE Makassar communities gather on World Water Day
22 March 2018
World Water Day 2018 asks, “How can we use nature to overcome the water challenges of the 21st century – floods, droughts and water pollution?”
Monash partners with three prominent Asia Pacific universities for RISE
19 March 2018
Monash University has signed partnership agreements with three of the Asia Pacific’s most highly regarded universities - Hasanuddin University (UNHAS) in Indonesia; and, Fiji National University (FNU) and The University of the South Pacific (USP) in Fiji - for the Revitalising Informal Settlements and their Environments (RISE) program.
Australian energy expert appointed Professorial Fellow
12 March 2018
Chloe Munro AO will work across multiple faculties and institutes to advance energy policy research, natural resources policy, and to link research to the needs of industry and government.
The power of consumer habit: why businesses often struggle to expand overseas
5 March 2018
One of the reasons why some companies fail in their expansions, is that their business models don’t sufficiently account for differences in consumers’ habits.
ClimateWorks Australia joins major new international project
1 March 2018
ClimateWorks to map international and national pathways towards more sustainable land and food systems.
Monash formalises partnership with Wellcome Sanger Institute for RISE
26 February 2018
Monash University has just signed a five-year research collaboration agreement with world-leading centre in genomic discovery and understanding, the Wellcome Sanger Institute for the Revitalising Informal Settlements and their Environments program.
Event: National Sustainable Living Festival's Great Debate 2018
16 February 2018
Do we have the capability to reverse global warming within a meaningful time frame?
Energy Transitions paper published in prestigious interdisciplinary journal
15 February 2018
Paper on exploratory modelling for long term planning is featured in a special issue of Energy Research and Social Science.
Report: The Bottom Line – household impacts of delaying improved energy requirements in the Building Code
8 February 2018
Australia can cost-effectively strengthen residential energy efficiency standards in the Building Code and cut heating and cooling energy use by up to 51 per cent.
MSDI appoints Deputy Directors
25 January 2018
MSDI is delighted to announce the appointment of three new Deputy Directors in the areas of Research, Enterprise and Education.
Three reasons why share-bikes don’t fit Australian culture
25 January 2018
To understand Australian culture and see why it’s problematic for share-bikes, let’s compare it to one of our neighbours – Singapore.
To end share-bike dumping, focus on how to change people’s behaviour
17 January 2018
If we deal with why people are behaving badly, then we’ll see fewer of these bikes stuck up trees or clogging rivers.
MSDI 2017 Annual Activity Report
2 January 2018
The 2017 MSDI Annual Activity Report is now available to view and download.