Modelling Degrowth Futures to Meet Ambitious Climate Targets in Australia
A PhD position is available in the Sustainability Assessment Program at UNSW Sydney.
This project will involve developing enhanced modelling techniques capable of representing a degrowing economy. We will model the effects of key degrowth policies and find future pathways for Australia to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to below its net-zero target while improving wellbeing.
PhD Opportunity: CGE Modelling of Australian Degrowth Futures
The PhD student will enable IELab's CGE model for degrowth applications and port the CGE model into the MESSAGEix IAM. This involves resolving shortcomings of these CGE models in handling negative values for investment variables resulting from declining GDP trajectories.
The student will re-interpret negative investment as stranded assets, insert new technology descriptions of those assets that remain operational, and introduce additional behavioural constraints linking energy and non-energy demand.
Key Research Questions and Objectives
* To develop enhanced modelling techniques capable of representing a degrowing economy.
* To model the effects of key degrowth policies and find future pathways for Australia to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to below its net-zero target while improving wellbeing.
* To build modelling capability and infrastructure to simulate degrowth pathways for Australia, including key degrowth policy feedbacks and dynamics.
Research Methods and Techniques
The PhD student will work with two established national integrated assessment models (MESSAGEix IAM and IELab CGE). The student will use programming skills to integrate these models, including Python code and data management.
The research will involve intercomparisons between different modelling paradigms for simulating degrowth pathways and advancing scholarship and practice. Expected outcomes include quantitative descriptions of distinct and consistent future degrowth policies for Australia.
Student Skills and Qualifications
* Solid background in economics, sciences or engineering.
* Strong experience in computer programming and data management.
* Familiarity with or ability to learn the IAM's Python code and the Industrial Ecology Virtual Laboratory.
* Interest in climate change and/or sustainability science.
Supervisory Team and Application
Candidates will be supervised by Prof Thomas Wiedmann and one other supervisor from UNSW Sydney as well as two supervisors from the University of Sydney.
All supervisors are internationally recognised leaders in sustainability and climate mitigation research with an award-winning track record of publications and a well-established professional and collaboration network.