There are two competing views on how we should tackle global climate change, if we generalise. One looks to build national and global accords – like the Paris Accord. The second argues for a more distributed (polycentric) approach linking multiple scales and levels – building action from the bottom up through coalitions of self-interest.
Even before the USA threatened to pull out of the Paris Accord, the sum of emissions reduction targets and actions would leave us short of containing climate change to less than 2°C warming.
With top-down processes struggling, we need to strengthen bottom-up ones.
Addressing climate change in the long run involves changing everyday activities of households, firms and the role of governments in regulating use of the atmospheric commons. Global accords provide direction and possibly (though not yet in evidence) indicate ways to share the burden of change, but many solutions will be actioned at local scales. These bottom-up actions also build support for overarching arrangements as they link self-interest with global action agendas.
Recent meetings show self-interest might be the way to go. At Impact X, firms indicated robust net zero actions despite changing energy policy. Climate Investor Forum showcased momentum building for finance investment, highlighting bottom-up responses to opportunities. Firms were driving energy saving and circular economy options as good business sense; finance was backing renewables as the cheapest energy. Homeowners through rooftop solar now contribute over 11% of Australia’s electricity to manage home energy prices.
In supporting Australia’s net zero transition, national research challenge programs will be important. But so too will building mechanisms for place-based innovation and supporting regional capacity to drive other scales of change that build resilience. If climate change is the breakaway iceberg we want to avoid, nimble flotillas of innovation rafts that build bottom-up actions are key in our navigation.
We should:
- Fund regional innovation through self-organising coalitions with net zero goals.
- Create “networks of networks” to share learning across diverse groups.
- Link local R&D to regional needs and leadership to build innovation capacity.
- Pursue net zero as a by-product of other goals, like energy efficiency.
- Support collaboration between R&D, industry, community, and government for local solutions.
– Dr Michael Battaglia, Towards Net Zero Mission Lead, CSIRO
Read more stories from the April 2025 issue of Impact Leadership magazine.
