Beyond Zero Emissions
An Australian climate solutions think tank developing practical pathways to a zero-emissions economy.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Beyond Zero Emissions (BZE) is an Australian climate-change solutions think tank established in 2006. It develops independent research, economic analysis and public-policy proposals intended to show how Australia can rapidly replace fossil-fuel-dependent systems with renewable energy and other zero-emissions technologies. Its work is directed at practical transition pathways rather than climate science alone, and has covered electricity, buildings, transport, agriculture and land use, manufacturing, cement, regional development and employment. BZE became known nationally through its Zero Carbon Australia research program. The program's first major publication, the Stationary Energy Plan, released in 2010, presented a detailed scenario for supplying Australia's electricity entirely from renewable sources. The report helped stimulate public discussion about the feasibility of 100% renewable electricity and established BZE's characteristic approach: sector-by-sector modelling combined with policy recommendations and an emphasis on economic opportunity. Later plans examined efficient and all-electric buildings, high-speed rail, electric vehicles, renewable-powered industry, agriculture and forestry, and the transition of coal-dependent regions. The organisation's reports generally argue that the transition away from coal, gas and oil can produce economic, health and regional benefits as well as emissions reductions. Recommendations have included public investment, grants, levies, infrastructure development, electrification and coordinated planning. BZE has also examined the risks faced by fossil-fuel-intensive economies, including the possibility that carbon-intensive assets and exports could lose value as global energy systems change. Beyond research publication, BZE provides presentations, webinars, technical support and community resources. Its Zero Carbon Communities initiative helps local governments and community groups plan emissions reductions. In partnership with Ironbark Sustainability, it developed Snapshot, a tool providing consistent greenhouse-gas profiles for Australian local-government areas. BZE also participates in national events and international climate networks, including the Global 100% Renewable Energy Campaign. In 2015, BZE popularised the phrase “renewable energy superpower” through a report arguing that Australia's exceptional renewable resources could support new energy-intensive industries and exports. During the COVID-19 economic crisis, it launched the Million Jobs Plan in 2020. The plan proposed strategic investment across energy, buildings, manufacturing, transport, recycling, land use and training, with the stated objective of creating up to 1.8 million jobs while rebuilding the economy and accelerating decarbonisation. BZE is funded independently through donations from individuals and philanthropic trusts, together with grants and commissioned projects from local and state government bodies. It states that it does not accept political-party donations or commissioned work from political parties. The organisation has received recognition in think-tank rankings and sustainability awards, including the 2018 Prospect award for international energy and environment think tanks and a 2019 Victorian Premier's Sustainability Award for environmental volunteering. Its present public identity is that of an independent Australian research and advocacy organisation focused on technically credible, economically beneficial pathways to zero emissions.
History
Beyond Zero Emissions was founded in Australia in 2006 by Matthew Wright and Adrian Whitehead under the guidance of Philip Sutton. Its early work developed through Melbourne's climate-emergency community, including collaboration with the Climate Emergency Network and public discussion groups focused on climate science and technical solutions. The organisation also produced weekly community radio programs on 3CR for many years. In 2009, BZE began developing the Zero Carbon Australia plans, initially with the Climate Emergency Network and with support from Climate Positive. The work later became a research collaboration with the University of Melbourne Energy Research Institute. The first major result was the Stationary Energy Plan, published in 2010. It proposed a renewable electricity system for Australia and helped move 100% renewable energy from a fringe concept into a subject of national policy debate. The plan was also shortlisted for a Banksia Foundation environmental research award. BZE expanded its sectoral program during the following decade. In 2012 it published work on the health and social harms associated with coal mining in the Hunter Valley, the Laggard to Leader report on Australia's climate potential, and Repowering Port Augusta, a blueprint for replacing coal generation with renewable energy. Its Buildings Plan in 2013 examined how Australian buildings could reach zero emissions through retrofits, renewable generation and the replacement of gas appliances. Research published in 2014 addressed high-speed rail, fossil-fuel export risks, carbon capture and storage, and zero-emissions agriculture and forestry. In 2015, BZE issued The Energy Freedom Home, the Carbon Crisis report and Renewable Energy Superpower. The latter framed Australia as a potential leader in renewable-powered industry and introduced language that subsequently became common in energy-policy discussion. The organisation continued with reports on electric vehicles in 2016, community transition planning in 2017, and cement and industrial electrification in 2018. Its 2018 Electrifying Industry work was accompanied by a summit bringing together government, manufacturers and allied industries. In 2019, BZE published regional transition work on the Northern Territory and Collie in Western Australia, and released the Australian Local Government Climate Review and Snapshot tool with Ironbark Sustainability. BZE has combined research with advocacy and public engagement. It became a signatory to an Australian parliamentary climate-emergency declaration campaign in 2016 and joined the Global 100% Renewable Energy Campaign before the 2016 United Nations climate conference in Marrakech. Its work has been recognised in international think-tank rankings, the Prospect Think Tank Awards and Victorian sustainability awards. In June 2020, during the economic disruption caused by COVID-19, BZE launched the Million Jobs Plan. The proposal identified energy, buildings, manufacturing, transport, recycling, land use and training as areas for coordinated investment, with a focus on distributing employment across metropolitan and regional Australia. The organisation remains an independent, donation-supported climate policy think tank whose principal output is research and public education rather than commercial products.
- 2020
Million Jobs Plan launched
[1]BZE released a recovery and decarbonisation framework centred on investment in seven economic sectors.
- 2019
Snapshot community climate tool released
[1]BZE and Ironbark Sustainability introduced a consistent emissions-profile tool for Australian local-government areas.
- 2018
Electrifying Industry program expanded
[1]BZE published industrial-electrification research and held its first Electrifying Industry Summit.
- 2016
Joined global renewable-energy campaign
[1]BZE became a partner of the Global 100% Renewable Energy Campaign and supported a parliamentary climate-emergency declaration campaign.
- 2015
Renewable Energy Superpower published
[1]BZE outlined how Australia's renewable resources could support clean-energy-intensive industry and exports.
- 2012
Repowering Port Augusta published
[1]The report proposed replacing two coal power stations in Port Augusta with renewable generation.
- 2010
Stationary Energy Plan released
[1]BZE published its first major report, presenting a pathway for Australia to supply electricity entirely from renewable energy.
- 2006
Organisation founded
[1]Beyond Zero Emissions was established by Matthew Wright and Adrian Whitehead under Philip Sutton's guidance.
Products and positioning
An independent, solutions-oriented climate think tank that translates renewable-energy and electrification scenarios into practical Australian policy, infrastructure and regional-development pathways.
Policy research program · 2009
Zero Carbon Australia plans
A series of sector-specific research plans examining how Australia could reach zero emissions. Topics have included stationary energy, buildings, transport, agriculture and forestry, electric vehicles, industrial electrification and regional economic transition. The plans combine technical pathways with recommendations for public policy, infrastructure and investment.
Economic and climate policy framework · 2020
Million Jobs Plan
A 2020 proposal for using strategic investment to create employment and reduce emissions during post-pandemic economic recovery. It focused on energy, buildings, manufacturing, transport, recycling, land use and training, with particular attention to regional communities affected by industrial decline, drought, fire or unemployment.
Community climate program · 2017
Zero Carbon Communities
An initiative supporting local governments and communities with resources, guidance and practical planning tools for emissions reduction. It is designed to help communities understand local emissions, identify opportunities and connect climate action with resilience and local economic development.
Community emissions tool · 2019
Snapshot
A tool developed with Ironbark Sustainability that provides nationally consistent greenhouse-gas profiles for Australian local-government areas. By making local emissions information easier to compare and interpret, it supports community planning and local climate-action strategies.
Energy and industrial strategy report · 2015
Renewable Energy Superpower
A report arguing that countries with abundant renewable resources can gain strategic and economic advantages in a decarbonising world. Its Australian analysis linked low-cost renewable electricity with energy-intensive manufacturing, new industries and potential clean-energy exports.
Marketing campaigns
- 2020Million Jobs Plan
Australia
The campaign presented clean-economy investment as a route to post-COVID recovery, regional employment and faster emissions reduction.
- 2020Zero Carbon Communities and Fight for Planet A
Australia
BZE's community-planning initiative partnered with the ABC climate series Fight for Planet A and contributed to its Community Solutions Plan.
- 2016Climate Emergency Declaration campaign
Australia
BZE became a signatory to a campaign urging the Australian Parliament to declare a climate emergency.
- 2016Global 100% Renewable Energy Campaign
International
BZE formally joined the international campaign in the lead-up to the United Nations climate conference in Marrakech.
Brand decisions
2020
Focused recovery advocacy on green employmentStrategyBackground
The COVID-19 pandemic created a major economic downturn and increased pressure for policies combining recovery with climate action.
Action taken
BZE launched the Million Jobs Plan, identifying seven sectors for coordinated investment and proposing up to 1.8 million jobs.
Aftermath
The plan broadened BZE's public argument from emissions reduction toward employment, regional development and economic reconstruction.
2009
Adopted a sector-based zero-emissions research strategyStrategyBackground
BZE sought to move from broad climate advocacy toward detailed, technically grounded transition pathways for major parts of Australia's economy.
Action taken
It began the Zero Carbon Australia plans, initially with climate-community partners and later with research collaboration involving the University of Melbourne Energy Research Institute.
Aftermath
The program became the foundation of BZE's public identity and generated research on energy, buildings, transport, land use, manufacturing and regional transition.
Recent events
- 2020
Beyond Zero Emissions launches the Million Jobs Plan[1]
Campaign · Other
BZE proposed coordinated investment across seven sectors to support economic recovery from the COVID-19 recession while accelerating emissions reduction.
- 2020
Zero Carbon Communities partners with Fight for Planet A[1]
Campaign
BZE's community-planning work was featured through the ABC climate series and its Community Solutions Plan.
- 2015
Beyond Zero Emissions launches the Renewable Energy Superpower report[1]
Other
The report argued that Australia's renewable resources could support energy-intensive industries and new forms of clean-energy economic development.
- 2010
Beyond Zero Emissions publishes the Stationary Energy Plan[1]
Other
The organisation released its first major Zero Carbon Australia report, outlining a pathway for Australia to generate all electricity from renewable sources.
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