South East Queensland’s (SEQ’s) centralised electricity system is under great pressure to adapt. Climate change is converging with socio-economic, demographic and technological changes to create a ‘perfect storm’ for the region’s electricity system. Distribution networks are particularly affected, with these factors contributing to tremendous peak demand growth, about double the rate of growth in average demand in recent years. This paper reviews how Australia’s electricity system is adapting to multiple drivers of peak electricity demand. We use socio-technical transitions theory to understand the temporal interconnected social and technical dimensions of adaptation in this setting. Specifically, we present an historical narrative of the emergence of centralisation in Australia and outline the peak demand problem in SEQ and review adaptation options from the international literature. We also analyse the interactions between key social groups and their adaptation responses over the past decade. Our analysis shows that adaptation has become a contested process between supply-chain actors and end-users, each with different economic objectives, adaptation needs and capacities. The resulting adaptation dynamic that is emerging shows worrying signs of maladaptation. Implications for market governance and urban policy and research are discussed.

This article presents research conducted on recent media coverage of ‘carbon dioxide capture and storage’ (CCS) technology in Australia. Recognising the significant impact of print, radio and television media in shaping public perceptions and attitudes, the purpose of the research is to inform policy makers on current media debate on CCS and make recommendations on ways to communicate and engage with the journalism/media profession. A total of 390 media articles were sourced from an indexing database (ProQuest ANZ Newsstand) and content analysed according to several criteria. Results were that there was roughly an even split between articles that were pro-CCS and those against. In all, six emergent themes were identified–three affirmative and three negative arguments–which covered 70% of articles analysed. The data also revealed that the term ‘clean coal’ was most often associated with CCS technology, and that technical explanations were not often provided. Implications for energy policy, particularly in relation to communication and public engagement are discussed.

Australian cities face significant and growing challenges due to the combined impacts of population growth, climate change, unsustainable consumption, and digital disruption. While new services and technologies are being developed to support improved urban and environmental sustainability outcomes, significant barriers to change persist. To devise strategies addressing the resistance to change, we explore the Australian urban planning and development system to identify constraints and enablers of innovation, deconstructing commonly cited barriers such as ‘path dependency’, ‘technological lock-in’, and ‘short-termism’. We used a mixed-method approach consisting of a national cross-sectional survey and two urban development case studies. Based on its findings, this paper argues for an enhancement of the system-wide innovation capacity of Australian cities to address environmental, social, and economic pressures and achieve sustainability and resilience goals. Building and extending upon transitions theory, strategic action fields, and urban experimentation and innovation, this paper sets out a rationale for increased investment in Australia’s urban innovation ecosystem and provides five strategic actions to guide urban decision-makers, planners, and industry stakeholders. It highlights the necessity of fostering adaptive policy environments and creating dedicated zones in urban greenfield developments for sustainability innovation and experimentation to inspire and accelerate system-wide change.