Professor John Wiseman

Honorary Professorial Fellow


Professor John Wiseman is a Professorial Research Fellow with the Melbourne Sustainable Society Institute, a Senior Research Fellow with Melbourne Climate Futures and an Adjunct Professor at the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health at the University of Melbourne. His other current roles include Visiting Fellow with the Centre for Climate Economics and Policy, Australian National University; Research Fellow at the Centre for Policy Development; and Board member of The Next Economy.

Previous academic and public policy roles include Deputy Director, Melbourne Sustainable Society Institute; Foundation Director, McCaughey Centre for Community Wellbeing, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health; and Assistant Director, Policy Development and Research, Victorian Department of Premier and Cabinet.

John’s major research and policy contributions have been in the fields of social justice and citizen engagement, globalisation impacts, social wellbeing policy frameworks and indicators, sustainability transitions, and climate change risks and solutions.

His current work focuses on the actions needed to accelerate the transition to a just and resilient post-carbon society.

Recent publications

Diluiso, F. et al (2021) Coal transitions—part 1: a systematic map and review of case study learnings from regional, national, and local coal phase-out experiences, Environmental Research Letters, 16 113003.

Wiseman, J. and Wollersheim, L. Building Just and Prosperous Zero Carbon Regions, Pursuit, 27 October 2021.

Wiseman, J. and Wollersheim, L. Building Just and Prosperous Zero Carbon Regions, Discussion Paper, Melbourne Climate Futures, October 2021.

Wiseman, J. After Glasgow, Facing a Harsh Climate With Wisdom Hope and Courage, Ecohustler, 2 November 2021.

Wiseman, J. 2021,  Hope and Courage in the Climate Crisis: Wisdom and Action in the Long Emergency, Palgrave Macmillan, UK.

Jotzo, F. and Wiseman, J. ‘The end of coal fired power can be managed or messy’, 26 February 2020, Sydney Morning Herald.

Jotzo, F., Malouz, S. and Wiseman, J. 2018, Coal Transition in Australia: Preparing for the looking domestic coal phase out and falling export demand, Crawford School of Public Policy, ANU.

Blashki, G. Wiseman, J. Reifels, L. Hayes, K. and Burke, S. 2018, ‘Mental Health in a Changing Climate’, Pursuit, University of Melbourne

Hayes, K. Blashki, G. Wiseman, J. Burke, S. and Reifels, L. 2018, ‘Climate Change and Mental Health, Risks, Impacts and Priority Actions’, International Journal of Mental Health Systems, 2:28.

Coenen, L., Campbell, S. and Wiseman, J. 2018, ‘Regional Innovation Systems and Transformative Dynamics: Transitions in Coal Regions in Australia and Germany’, in Isakesen, A., Martin, R. and Trippl, M. (eds), New Avenues for Regional Innovation Systems - Theoretical Advances, Empirical Cases and Policy Lessons, Springer, London.

Talberg, A. Thomas, S. and Wiseman, J. 2018, ‘A scenario process to inform Australian geoengineering policy’, Futures.

Annabelle Workman, Grant Blashki, Kathryn J. Bowen, David J. Karoly & John Wiseman, 2018, ‘Health co-benefits and the development of climate change mitigation policies in the European Union, Climate Policy, DOI: 10.1080/14693062.2018.1544541.

Wiseman, J. 2018, The Great Energy Transition of the 21st Century: The 2050 Zero-Carbon World Oration, Energy Research and Social Science.

Spencer, T., Colombier, M., Sartor, O., Garg, A., Tiwari, V., Burton, J., Caetano, T., Green, F., Teng, F. & Wiseman, J. 2017, ‘The 1.5°C target and coal sector transition: at the limits of societal feasibility’, Climate Policy.

Wiseman, J. Campbell, S. and Green, F. 2017, Prospects for a “just transition” away from coal-fired power generation in Australia: Learning from the closure of the Hazelwood Power Station, CCEP Working Paper 1708, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University.

Wiseman, J. 2018, Submission to: Commonwealth of Australia, Senate Inquiry on Retirement of Coal Fired Power Stations

Alexander, S. and Wiseman, J. 2016 'The Degrowth Challenge: Reducing energy and resource consumption as an essential component in achieving carbon budget targets' in Garcia, E.; Martinez-Iglesias, M. and Kirby, P. (eds), Transitioning to a Post-Carbon Society: Degrowth, Austerity and Wellbeing, Macmillan Education, UK.

Workman, A.; Blashki, G.; Karoly, D.; Wiseman, J. 2016, ‘The Role of Health Co-Benefits in the Development of Australian Climate Change Mitigation Policies’, Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 13, 927.

Gleeson, B. Pollard, S. and Wiseman, J. 2016, Cities and climate action after Paris: key opportunities and priorities, MSSI Briefing Paper, MSSI, University of Melbourne.

Wiseman, J. 2016, ‘Art in a Harsh Climate: Pathways to a Just and Resilient Post-Carbon Culture’ in Abrahams, G.; Gellatly, K.; & Johnson, B. (eds) Art+Climate=Change, MUP, Melbourne.

Wiseman, J, Karoly, D and Sheko, A 2014, ‘Cool Melbourne: Towards a sustainable and resilient zero carbon city in a hotter world', in Whitzman, C, Gleeson, B & Sheko, A, Melbourne: What Next? Research Monograph No. 1, Melbourne Sustainable Society Institute, The University of Melbourne.

Alexander, A. Nicholson, K. and Wiseman, J. 2014, ‘Fossil Free, The Development and Significance of the Fossil Fuel Divestment Movement', Issues Paper, No. 4, Melbourne Sustainable Society Institute, University of Melbourne.

Rickards, L, Kashima, Y, and Wiseman, J 2014, ‘Barriers to effective climate change mitigation: the case of senior government and business decision makers.’ Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change, 5(6): 753-773.

Wiseman, J., Edwards, T and Luckins, K 2014, ‘Pathways to a sustainable and resilient urban future: economic paradigm shifts and policy priorities’ in Pearson, L. Newton, P. and Roberts, P. Resilient Sustainable Cities: A Future, Routledge, London.

Wiseman, J 2014, ‘Imagine 2033: How we achieved a rapid transition to a just and resilient post carbon society’ in Sykes, H. (ed) A Love of Ideas, Future Leaders, Melbourne.

Rickards L, Ison R, Fünfgeld H, Wiseman J, 2014, 'Opening and closing the future: climate change, adaptation, and scenario planning', Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy 32(4) 587 – 602.

Rickards L, Wiseman J, Edwards T, Biggs C, 2014, 'The problem of fit: scenario planning and climate change adaptation in the public sector', Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy 32(4) 641 – 662.

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