The Macquarie Business School-led Transforming Energy Markets (TEM) Research Centre and the Macquarie University Smart Green Cities Research Centre hosted the “the physicist behind net zero”, Professor Myles Allen from the University of Oxford last month for a lecture on ‘Geological Net Zero’ and how to stop fossil fuels from causing global warming.

After a welcome by Professor Eric Knight, Executive Dean of Macquarie Business School, and TEM Director Professor Stefan Trueck, Professor Allen outlined his ideas for a pathway to geological net zero, a state in which, for every tonne of carbon dioxide still generated from fossil sources, one tonne is permanently restored to the geosphere, or solid earth.

The presentation was followed by a panel discussion on ‘Net Zero and the Transition of Australian Electricity Markets’ hosted by Professor Lesley Hughes, with views from Professor Allen and three Australian energy market experts: Dani Alexander (CEO, UNSW Energy Institute), Vladimir Strezov (Professor in the School of Natural Sciences at Macquarie University) and Dr. Madeline Taylor (Co-Director of TEM and Director of Research Training at Macquarie Law School). The panel discussed various aspects of how Australia will be able to achieve net zero as well as challenges such as energy justice, the fossil fuel lobby, and what individuals can do to help a successful transition.

“The takeaway for me,” said Professor Trueck, “is that we need a carbon management approach to stop fossil fuels from causing global warming, and we need it before the world stops using fossil fuels if we are to achieve net zero.”