Issues Papers
Our Issues Papers reflect work undertaken by members of the Institute’s scholarly research community (within and beyond the University) and visitors.
MSSI strives to inform and stimulate public conversation about key sustainability questions facing our society. Our Issues Papers provide information and trigger discussion about these issues. Each paper encapsulates the insights of a thinker or practitioner in sustainability. Although material is often closely informed by peer-reviewed academic research, the papers themselves are presented in a clear, discursive style that appeals to a broad readership. The views and opinions contained within MSSI publications are solely those of the author/s and do not reflect those held by MSSI, the University of Melbourne or any other relevant party.
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Australia's Clean Economy Future: Costs and Benefits
This cost-benefit analysis finds that developing clean economies, whilst tackling climate change will actually deliver economic benefits.
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Melbourne Sustainability
Transforming research for a sustainable society. Patrick Troy contributes to a debate about the future of urban life in a situation where the capacities of...
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Double Indemnity Urbanism
In this research paper, Andy Merrifield discusses aspects of ecological sustainability in the context of the recent Ecocity World Summit in Melbourne. In particular, he...
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The Case for Investing in Last Resort Housing
It’s cheaper to provide last resort housing to homeless people than to leave them sleeping rough, a new cost-benefit analysis has found.
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Protecting the Public Interest in Melbourne's Rail Franchise
This paper explores ways to improve the current public transport contract model, and identify where change is needed to better serve the public good.
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How will the NDIS Change Australian Cities?
People with disability represent a fifth of the Australian population (AIHW 2015), and this proportion is expected to increase with population ageing. With the National...
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Cities of the Future: what should be their form?
There are many conversations about cities being undertaken at present, reflecting the recognition that cities are important for our social, environmental and economic future. However,...
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Policies for a Post-Growth Economy
This Issues Paper provides a summary case for why there are, in fact, limits to growth, and outlines a range of bold policy interventions that...
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Outing the Invisible Academic: how researchers can get the hearing they deserve
This issues paper calls for fundamental change in the way universities go about translating their research into impact, suggests a system-wide solution, and provides a...
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Fossil Free: the development and significance of the fossil fuel divestment movement
As the probability and risks of catastrophic climate change continue to increase, fossil fuel divestment has become an increasingly important strategic focus for organisations seeking...
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Coming Through Slaughter: ecology of the urban age
Reflecting on the past few decades – we were told it was a time of wondrous growth. We were also reassured that the ‘fundamentals’ were...
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The New Economics of Oil
The concept of peak oil is very much alive and squeezing its hands ever more tightly around the throats of oil-dependent economies. In other words,...