Climate Action
What are the critical skills business graduates need for a net-zero economy?
An ABDC report involving interviews with peak industry bodies highlights critical shortages in specific technical skills and the vital role that business school graduates must play in the transition to a net-zero economy.
Climate risks vary across sectors, with physical risks (such as infrastructure damage and resource scarcity) and transition risks (such as market shifts and regulatory changes) affecting industries from finance to agriculture.
Industry leaders highlight the urgent need for professionals skilled in climate risk and opportunity assessment, emissions tracking, carbon accounting and sustainable finance, and strategic adaptation planning. High-demand skills include climate risk and opportunity assessment and disclosures, emissions tracking, ESG compliance, carbon accounting, technology and AI integration, circular economy expertise, and strategic leadership for climate adaptation.
Significant skill shortages exist in carbon reporting, scenario analysis, clean energy technologies, climate data science, and sustainability management.
ABDC/PRME Working Group on Climate Action
The ABDC/PRME Working Group on Climate Action realises one of the goals of the ABDC Declaration on Climate Action to embed a strategic partnership with the Australia-New Zealand Chapter of Principles of Responsible Management Education (PRME) to provide a forum for sharing of best practice and coordinating action.
The working group plays a critical role in raising the ambition of Australian business schools to act on climate change.
Working Group Members:
- Associate Professor Fara Azmat, Deakin Business School
- Dr Chandana Hewege, Senior Lecturer, Swinburne Business School
- Dr Joya Kemper, Senior Lecturer, UC Business School
- Dr Bryce Magnuson, Lecturer, Federation University
- Associate Professor Arunima Malik, University of Sydney Business School
- Dr Mansi Mansi, Senior Lecturer, Tasmanian School of Business and Economics
- Dr Robyn Ouschan, Senior Lecturer, Curtin Business School
- Associate Professor Rakesh Pandey, Tasmanian School of Business and Economics
- Dr Chamila Perera, Lecturer, Swinburne Business School
- Dr Ahibijeet Singh, Lecturer, Curtin Business School
- Roxane Valier-Brasier, University of Queensland Business School
- Dr Anna Young-Ferris, Senior Lecturer, University of Sydney Business School
Turning up the heat on climate action
Australia’s business schools are boosting their focus on climate change by appointing a Climate Action Fellow to coordinate their actions nationally and liaise with industry, the not-for-profit sector and government.
This follows the ABDC Climate Action Declaration made in 2022.
Listen to a podcast with Climate Action Fellow, Associate Professor Melissa Edwards, here.
Climate Action Videos
What’s the value of a Climate Action Fellow?
ABDC webinar on climate action
What makes graduates climate literate?