ºÚÁÏÍø´óʼÇ

Geopolitics, global governance and regional dynamics

COP30 in Belém marks nearly 10 years since the Paris Agreement—a global pact to keep warming well below 2°C, ideally 1.5°C—and this summit will act as a check-up on progress.

• On the ground:Ìý´¡/±Ê°ù´Ç´Ú.ÌýFengshi WuÌýis an expert onÌýenvironmental politics, state–society relations, and global governance, with a focus on the Asia Pacific. She can provide commentary on the broaderÌýgeopolitical contextÌýand key issues shaping COP30, as well as the potential political and economic implications for Australia.
• On the ground:Ìý´¡/±Ê°ù´Ç´Ú.ÌýDeborah Barros Leal FariasÌý°ù±ð²õ±ð²¹°ù³¦³ó±ð²õÌýglobal governance, developing country politics, and differentiation in climate treaties. She can comment onÌýBrazilian politics and policyÌýin the context of COP30, climate change denialism,Ìýright-wing populismÌý²¹²Ô»åÌýenvironmental policies.
• Available to comment:ÌýEliza NorthropÌý(Director,ÌýCentre for Sustainable Development Reform)Ìýis an expert inÌýinternational environmental lawÌýand governance. She has deep experience with theÌýParis Agreement,Ìýoceans and climate policy,Ìý²¹²Ô»åÌýNationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Eliza advises on legal architecture, biodiversity, the ocean–climate nexus, finance, and implementation pathways, drawing on her long involvement in COPs and UN treaty negotiations, including the High Seas (BBNJ) and Plastics Treaties.
• Available to comment:ÌýProf.ÌýElizabeth ThurbonÌýis Director of theÌýGreen Energy Statecraft Project,Ìýa multi-university initiative exploring strategic governance for accelerating the global energy transition. Her research focuses onÌýclimate policy,Ìýeconomic statecraftÌý²¹²Ô»åÌýgreen industrial strategy,Ìýwith a particular emphasis on East Asia’s clean energy shift and its implications for global climate governance.
• Available to comment:ÌýDrÌýWesley MorganÌý(ºÚÁÏÍø´óÊÂ¼Ç Institute for Climate Risk & Response) is an expert inÌýclimate diplomacyÌý²¹²Ô»åÌýinternational relations in the Pacific islands. His research considers the ways countries work together at the UN to tackle climate change and integrate climate change into their foreign policy and national security strategies.

International law, accountability and just transition

ºÚÁÏÍø´óÊÂ¼Ç experts are advancing legal and governance frameworks that drive accountability and enable a fair, inclusive transition to a low-carbon world.ÌýRead more about theÌýimportance of ethical climate action.Ìý

• Virtual delegation:ÌýJane SloaneÌý(Director,ÌýGlobal Policy Initiative) is an international leader onÌýgender equalityÌý²¹²Ô»åÌýclimate justice, with expertise in inclusive policy design and advocacy frameworks for equitable climate action.
• Available to comment:ÌýEliza NorthropÌý(Director,ÌýCentre for Sustainable Development Reform)Ìýis an expert inÌýinternational environmental lawÌýand governance.
• Available to comment:ÌýInternational law expertÌýProf.ÌýJane McAdamÌýcan discussÌýclimate mobility, including climate change-relatedÌýdisplacement,Ìýmigration, planned relocations and evacuations.
• Available to comment:Ìý´¡/±Ê°ù´Ç´Ú.ÌýBernadette (B)ÌýHardyÌýis a Gamilaraay & Dharug woman with Irish and English heritage.ÌýA/Prof. Hardy leadsÌýDesigning with Country—an Indigenous-led climate adaptation and justice framework centering Country, kinship, water, reciprocity and shared methods such asÌýRemembering Country.Ìý

Climate finance, markets & financial-system resilience

Finance will be a flashpoint at COP30. At last year’s COP29, parties agreed to a collective US$300 billion annual climate finance goal by 2035, plus a roadmap to mobilise US$1.3 trillion globally from public and private sources. Now, the challenge is turning those numbers into real money.

• Available to comment:ÌýEliza NorthropÌý(Director,ÌýCentre for Sustainable Development Reform) has expertise in climate finance and implementation pathways, drawing on her long involvement in COPs and UN treaty negotiations.
• Available to comment:ÌýProf.ÌýRichard HoldenÌýcan comment on the economy, agreement on market mechanisms and trading mechanisms,Ìýclimate finance, the costs of climate mitigation andÌýadaptation measures.
• Available to comment:ÌýDrÌýTimothy NealÌýcan comment on the potentialÌýconsequences ofÌýclimate changeÌýforÌýeconomic activityÌý²¹²Ô»åÌýfood securityÌýfrom inaction.
• Available to comment:Ìý´¡/±Ê°ù´Ç´Ú.ÌýKristle Romero CortésÌýcan speak toÌýbanking resilienceÌý²¹²Ô»åÌýaligning financeÌýwith adaptation and transition — including the role ofÌýgreen bondsÌýandÌýstandardised reporting.
• Available to comment: David EyreÌý(CEO,ÌýºÚÁÏÍø´óÊÂ¼Ç Institute for Industrial Decarbonisation) is an expert inÌýgreen industrial development, coveringÌýgreen metals,Ìýcritical minerals, sustainable computing (AI data centres),Ìýindustrial electrification, advanced manufacturing,Ìýbuilt environment solutionsÌýfor future cities, andÌýgreen financeÌýchallenges.

Energy transition systems: grids, renewables and innovation

As COP30 turns attention from promises to concrete plans for the green transition, ºÚÁÏÍø´óʼǒs world-leading expertise in solar and renewable energy is helping shape the path forward.

• On the ground:ÌýDrÌýRahman DaiyanÌýis a specialist in power‑to‑X, hydrogen, renewable ammonia, and green iron/steel, and how this tech intersects with policy for scaling clean fuels and industrial decarbonisation.
• Virtual delegation:ÌýDani AlexanderÌý(CEO,ÌýºÚÁÏÍø´óÊÂ¼Ç Energy Institute) leads cross‑sector work on renewable generation, clean fuels, and grid integration. She can speak toÌýmarket design,Ìýtechnology adoption, andÌýequitable energy outcomes.
• Available to comment:Ìý´¡/±Ê°ù´Ç´Ú.ÌýPaul MunroÌýis a political ecologist and environmental historian whose research exploresÌýenergy transitionsÌýin theÌýGlobal South, forest governance, andÌýenergy justice.Ìý
• Available to comment: David EyreÌý(CEO,ÌýºÚÁÏÍø´óÊÂ¼Ç Institute for Industrial Decarbonisation) can comment onÌýgreen industrial development, coveringÌýgreen metals,Ìýcritical minerals, sustainable computing (AI data centres),Ìýindustrial electrification, advanced manufacturing,Ìýbuilt environment solutionsÌýfor future cities, andÌýgreen financeÌýchallenges.
• Available to comment:ÌýProf.ÌýNeeraj SharmaÌýis available to discussÌýcurrent andÌýnext-generation batteriesÌýand the importance ofÌýenergy storageÌýin relation toÌýaffordabilityÌýand theÌýgreen energy transition.ÌýProf. Sharma can also discuss battery end-of-life scenarios, from re-use to recycling.

Behavioural science, communication & public health impact

• Virtual delegation: Prof.ÌýBen NewellÌý(Director, ºÚÁÏÍø´óÊÂ¼Ç Institute for Climate Risk & Response) is an expert on judgement and decision making under uncertainty. He can talk about policy uptake, risk communication, and behavioural tools to close ambition–action gaps.
• Virtual delegation:ÌýDrÌýRebecca GreenÌýresearches visual communication forÌýclimate messaging and misinformation. She can talk about design-led strategies to build trust and engage diverse publics.
• Available to comment:ÌýDrÌýCybele DeyÌýis a psychiatrist and a previous attendee of COP. Dr Dey will be available to discuss theÌýmental health impacts of climate changeÌýonÌýyoung people.

Integrating forests, oceans, methane and nature-based solutions

• Available to comment:ÌýEliza NorthropÌý(Director,ÌýCentre for Sustainable Development Reform)Ìýis an expert inÌýinternational environmental lawÌýand governance. She has deep experience with theÌýParis Agreement,Ìýoceans and climate policy,Ìý²¹²Ô»åÌýNDCs. Eliza advises on legal architecture, biodiversity, the ocean–climate nexus, finance, and implementation pathways, drawing on her long involvement in COPs and UN treaty negotiations, including the High Seas (BBNJ) and Plastics Treaties.
• Available to comment:Ìý´¡/±Ê°ù´Ç´Ú.ÌýBryce KellyÌýmeasuresÌýmethane emissionsÌýacross the coal seam gas, coal mining, agricultural, waste and urban sectors. He is a collaborator with the UN Environment Programme’sÌý.Ìý
• Available to comment: DrÌýAaron EgerÌýcan speak toÌýmarine and blue carbon solutions, particularlyÌýkelp forest conservationÌýand how it can help achieve biodiversity and climate goals.
• Available to comment:ÌýProf.ÌýMatthew EnglandÌýcan discuss the urgency ofÌýaction on climate change,Ìýthe consequences of inaction, specificÌýclimate impacts on AustraliaÌýand the benefits ofÌýdeep emission cuts. He can also discuss theÌýhistory of COPÌýmeetings, how they work and why they are important.

Adaptation and built environment

• Available to comment:ÌýProf.ÌýDeo PrasadÌýAOÌýis available to discussÌýhowÌýbuildings and cities contribute to decarbonisationÌýandÌýclimate change. Deo is the CEO of theÌýÌýbased at ºÚÁÏÍø´óÊÂ¼Ç and also works with theÌý, created after Paris COP.
• Available to comment:ÌýDrÌýNegin NazarianÌýis an urban climatologist with a focus on how theÌýbuilt environment interacts with weather and climate extremes, and in turn, how urban dwellers are affected by this interaction. She is an IPCC Lead Author and leads theÌýÌýresearch lab, a group focusing on the pressing challenges of urban climate, including urban heat exposure and wind.
• Available to comment:Ìý´¡/±Ê°ù´Ç´Ú.ÌýPaul OsmondÌýis available to discussÌýclimate resilient urban design, green infrastructure andÌýurban cooling.
• Available to comment:ÌýProf.ÌýJohannes le CoutreÌýcan comment onÌýfood security, cellular agriculture,Ìýhumanitarian engineering, SDG2, and all aspects of the global agri-food system.
• Available to comment:Ìý´¡/±Ê°ù´Ç´Ú.ÌýPatrick HarrisÌý(ºÚÁÏÍø´óÊÂ¼Ç International Centre for Future Health Systems) can comment on taking aÌýhealth and equity lens to climate change, cities and infrastructure policy and planning.
• Available to comment:ÌýProf.ÌýJason SharplesÌý(ºÚÁÏÍø´óÊÂ¼Ç Canberra) is an expert in bushfires and is available to discussÌýbushfire dynamicsÌý²¹²Ô»åÌýextreme bushfire development.
• Available to comment:ÌýDrÌýGloria Pignatta’s expertise includesÌýenergy-efficient buildings, positive-energy districts, and climate-resilient materials. She can also discuss translatingÌýbuilding-physics research into policiesÌýand design actions that reduce emissions.
• Available to comment:Ìý´¡/±Ê°ù´Ç´Ú.ÌýBernadette (B)ÌýHardyÌýis a Gamilaraay & Dharug woman with Irish and English heritage.ÌýA/Prof. Hardy leadsÌýDesigning with Country—an Indigenous-led climate adaptation and justice framework centering Country, kinship, water, reciprocity and shared methods such asÌýRemembering Country.Ìý