Climate Action
The protection and restoration of ecosystems is critical to combating climate change, pollution, desertification and loss of biodiversity.
Through our research, policies, operations and teaching we are contributing to realising the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 13: Climate Action
Our researchers work in partnership with environment and community groups, government, industry and First Peoples to develop new approaches to ensure our ecosystems and natural resources are resilient, sustainable, biodiverse and protected.
LOCAL AND GLOBAL IMPACT - OUR RESEARCH CONTRIBUTING TO SDG 13: CLIMATE ACTION
See below for measurable, demonstrable, and beneficial change occurring beyond the university as a result of our research
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Australia ranks top five for trust in scientists
Australia ranks top five for trust in scientists
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Pollination science helps endangered Australian orchids
Pollination science helps endangered Australian orchids
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Study shows collaboration saves lives in climate emergency
Study shows collaboration saves lives in climate emergency
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Workforce resilience at Yarra Valley Water
Workforce resilience at Yarra Valley Water
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3D digital twin to enhance reef understanding
3D digital twin to enhance reef understanding
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Centre for the Study of the Inland
Centre for the Study of the Inland
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Improving soil health
Improving soil health
Promoting climate action across our operations
The Victorian Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub (Vic Hub) work with farmers and regional communities to strengthen drought preparedness and climate resilience. La Trobe University is one of the Hub’s university partners, with Dr Tim Clune serving as Capacity Building Theme Lead.
In 2025, the Hub provided farmers and regional communities with updated Dry Season and Seasonal Conditions resources covering drought planning, on-farm decision-making, financial support, wellbeing and region-specific advice. The resources support farmers and communities to prepare for, manage and recover from drought.
La Trobe researchers have also contributed to a four-stage drought-management model developed with growers, linking drought conditions with planning, preparation, response and recovery. Resources developed through this work have been shared with farmers through workshops across Victoria to support practical drought preparedness and risk-based decision-making.
La Trobe University’s climate action is guided by its Net Zero program and its long-term Sustainability Strategy and Action Plan, which together set out the University’s approach to reducing emissions and embedding sustainability across its operations, infrastructure, research and community engagement.
Sustainability Strategy and Action Plan (2025 – 2025)
La Trobe is developing a 30-year Sustainability Strategy and Action Plan to guide sustainability initiatives through to 2055. Development of the strategy included consultation with staff, students, employers and partners in the community and government, helping ensure the University’s long-term sustainability approach reflects wider community priorities. La Trobe’s current sustainability site continues to describe this consultation and the strategy’s role in guiding future action.
La Trobe’s Net Zero program, launched in 2019 with a $75 million commitment, sets a target of achieving net zero operational emissions by 2029. Major initiatives include campus electrification, renewable electricity, rooftop and utility-scale solar, battery storage, LED upgrades, electric vehicle infrastructure and carbon-neutral certification of regional campuses.
In 2025, La Trobe accelerated its transition to renewable electricity by bringing forward its previous 2028 target and moving to 100% emissions-free electricity across its campuses from 1 January 2025 through its Power Purchase Agreement with Iberdrola Australia. The University’s 2025 Annual Report subsequently recorded an 85% reduction in energy emissions since 2019, with electricity emissions falling from more than 24,500 tonnes of CO₂-e in 2024 to 119 tonnes in 2025.
La Trobe is also a signatory to Race to Zero, which requires participating institutions to establish and publicly report against emissions-reduction commitments and action plans.
La Trobe University works with local and regional government, communities and partner organisations to strengthen preparedness, response and recovery for climate-related disasters.
In 2025, La Trobe University’s Climate Change Adaptation Lab worked with the Northern Victorian Emergency Management Cluster, comprising Campaspe Shire, Central Goldfields Shire, City of Greater Bendigo, Loddon Shire and Mount Alexander Shire councils, to examine collaborative emergency management in regional Victoria.
The Strengthening Collaborative Emergency Management research report, published in July 2025, examined the councils’ shared response to the 2022 floods and how collaboration, shared resources and local knowledge can strengthen emergency preparedness, response and recovery. The research found that collaboration enabled councils to respond more effectively to local needs during emergencies and highlighted the growing importance of these arrangements as climate change increases the intensity, frequency and scale of disasters.
The report recommends stronger collaborative governance, stable and responsive funding, workforce development and greater recognition of local needs to strengthen long-term emergency management and climate resilience.
La Trobe also contributes to co-operative drought planning through the Victorian Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub. Working with farmers, communities, researchers and industry partners, the Hub supports drought preparedness and climate resilience. In 2025, La Trobe reported on a four-stage drought-management model developed with growers that links planning, preparation, response and recovery to changing drought conditions and supports risk-based decision-making
AquaWatch system for monitoring water quality
CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, launched AquaWatch Australia in 2023 with foundational partner SmartSat CRC and a network of collaborators, including La Trobe University. AquaWatch is developing an integrated national water-quality monitoring system using satellite observations, in-water sensors and data analytics to provide monitoring, predictive forecasts and early warning of harmful events.
In 2025, AquaWatch progressed towards operational deployment, with its data platform supporting water-quality monitoring and forecasting applications and transforming environmental data into actionable information for water management and preparedness for the impacts of climate change. CSIRO’s 2025 AquaWatch Data System resource describes the system’s use of satellite observations, sensor networks, cloud computing, artificial intelligence and machine learning to support monitoring and forecasting.
AquaWatch also formed part of the 2025 government response to South Australia’s harmful algal bloom and marine heatwave. In August 2025, the Australian Government announced $2 million to enhance monitoring and data collection of marine heatwaves through the AquaWatch system, as part of a wider response involving the Commonwealth and South Australian governments. This strengthened the use of AquaWatch for monitoring climate-related marine risks and informing responses to extreme environmental conditions.
La Trobe University collaborates with environmental and community organisations on climate adaptation, mitigation and education.
In 2025, La Trobe’s Climate Change Adaptation Lab began a collaborative project with Nature Network Bendigo Region, an independent not-for-profit community organisation supporting Landcare and environmental groups across the Bendigo region. The project engaged the Network’s 10 Landcare groups to examine how climate change is affecting conservation volunteers and natural resource management work, and to identify opportunities for this work to become more resilient, adaptive and sustainable in a changing climate.
La Trobe also has a long-standing partnership withGreenfleet, an environmental not-for-profit organisation that restores legally protected native forests to capture carbon emissions and restore ecosystems. La Trobe has supported Greenfleet’s revegetation work for more than 20 years, including supplying native plants from the Nangak Tamboree Wildlife Sanctuary for restoration projects.
The partnership also provides climate-action learning opportunities for students. Since 2023, La Trobe students from a range of disciplines have undertaken industry placements with Greenfleet. In 2025, La Trobe reported that one placement led to ongoing employment with Greenfleet, with placements continuing to provide practical experience in climate action, revegetation and sustainability.
La Trobe is also a founding partner of the Greater Bendigo Climate Collaboration, which brings together businesses, community organisations, environmental groups and public-sector organisations to support regional climate action. The Collaboration has continued beyond its initial three-year phase and is implementing the Greater Bendigo 2030 Zero Emissions Roadmap. Current initiatives include household energy-efficiency education, support for local businesses to reduce emissions and renewable-energy purchasing initiatives.
La Trobe University is committed to achieving University-wide net zero emissions by 2029. Its four regional campuses, Albury-Wodonga, Bendigo, Mildura and Shepparton, are certified carbon neutral by Climate Active.
In 2025, La Trobe accelerated progress toward this target by switching all campus electricity to 100% emissions-free supply and bringing Victoria’s largest urban solar farm into operation at the Melbourne Campus. The University’s 2025 Annual Report recorded an 85% reduction in energy emissions since 2019.
La Trobe University tracks and reports the amount of low-carbon and renewable energy used across its campuses through its public energy reporting dashboard.
In 2025, all electricity used across La Trobe’s campuses was supplied from 100% emissions-free renewable sources, following the commencement of the University’s Power Purchase Agreement with Iberdrola Australia on 1 January 2025. La Trobe also continued to generate renewable energy on site through rooftop solar, solar carports and its Melbourne Campus solar farm.
La Trobe’s 2025 Sustainable Finance Report reports that on-site renewable energy generation increased by 640% between 2019 and 2025 and provides annual renewable generation data in gigajoules. It also records an 85% reduction in energy-related emissions since 2019.
Further 2025 emissions results are reported in La Trobe’s Annual report confirms La Trobe's largest emissions reduction yet, including the reduction in electricity emissions from more than 24,500 tonnes of CO₂-e in 2024 to 119 tonnes in 2025.
Figure 1: Growth in La Trobe University’s On-site Renewable Energy Generation
