Social science

Large solar array

As large-scale solar farms continue to expand across regional Australia, CSIRO begins a unique study on public acceptance and its impacts on the industry's social licence.

equipment for hydrogen membrane research

Hydrogen offers a low-emissions pathway with broad potential to help decarbonise the energy, transport and industrial sectors.

Blue swimmer crabs in a crate labelled as Certified Sustainable Seafood MSC with the blue tick

How a market-based mechanism designed to recognise and reward sustainable fishing practices captures social benefits; a case study of the Marine Stewardship Council’s Fisheries Standard applied in Western Australia.

pile of rubbish mainly made up of plastic drink bottles

Forging trust between the waste industry and the Australian community will be critical for implementing new sustainable waste management solutions.

An overhead shot of a baled field.

Regional communities can make necessary changes in response to droughts and other related challenges including the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic using a transition planning approach that builds their resilience and sustainability into the future.

Bushfire with smoke entering the atmosphere

Australia and the world are facing multiple, successive, widespread disruptions which can lead to catastrophic disaster. A ‘Deconstructing Disasters’ approach can help us to build more resilience in our systems.

To decarbonise our energy systems, CSIRO is looking at the responsible innovation and social acceptance of hydrogen technologies. There are always challenges to the adoption of new technologies. Some of these challenges are technical or economic, but, for successful adoption, there also needs to be social awareness and acceptance.

People snorkelling on reef in front of island

There is an imperative to take action to protect and restore the Great Barrier Reef, the question is how we go about it. A new initiative is engaging the community in those decisions.

african landscape

Using the same methodology used in Australia's greenhouse gas emissions accounting system, Kenya is now keeping track of its carbon emissions and leading the way in Africa.