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Nearing Net Zero

July 30, 2026

By Elena Lambros and Dan Brown

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    The pressure on businesses to decarbonize is growing and will continue to intensify as security, affordability and sustainability of energy systems become key issues.

    The energy market of the future, including energy infrastructure and generation, will look vastly different from what it looks like today, presenting compelling opportunities and complex challenges for industry to navigate.

    However, despite the opportunities arising from decarbonization, making the transition is complex and requires significant strategic consideration.

    To help navigate this rapidly evolving space, Ashurst Perkins Coie is pleased to launch the Nearing Net Zero vodcast series. In this series, Partners Elena Lambros and Dan Brown dissect the latest regulatory and legislative developments driving forward the decarbonization agenda.

    Whether your organization is meeting regulatory obligations, engaging with customers, developing technologies or investing in innovation, we can help you navigate today’s fast-changing sustainability and energy landscape. For further information on Ashurst's sustainability and energy transition credentials please visit our Future Energy Solutions page.

    Latest episode

    Transition plans and what investors are looking for

    Climate transition plans are shifting from a "nice to have" to a necessity for future-proofing your organization.

    In this episode, Elena Lambros and Dan Brown consider how a robust transition plan is increasingly becoming a proxy for resilience, delivering investor confidence and license to operate in 2026 and beyond.

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    Video series

    Delivering the energy transition and navigating contentious issues

    Australia's energy transition is accelerating, and the organizations that bring a disputes lens to the table from the outset will be best placed to deliver these complex projects successfully.

    In this episode, Elena Lambros and Dan Brown are joined by Melissa Yeo to discuss why anticipating potential points of friction early, rather than reacting once issues arise, is critical to avoiding costly disputes in energy transition projects, and how AI is creating new opportunities to identify and manage these risks proactively.

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    The energy transition meets critical infrastructure security

    Australia's energy transition is reshaping the critical infrastructure landscape, and the regulatory architecture around it is evolving just as fast.

    In this episode, Elena Lambros and Dan Brown are joined by Clare Doneley to consider the intersection between the energy transition and the Security of Critical Infrastructure (SOCI) regime, and the practical steps organizations should be taking now to get ahead of these changes.

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    Financing the transition

    Australia's energy transition is accelerating, but securing the scale of capital required remains one of the most critical challenges facing the sector.

    In this episode, Kate Muller, Elena Lambros and Dan Brown explore the current landscape for attracting investment into renewable energy, innovations in transition financing, the barriers preventing private capital from deploying at scale, and the role of public-private collaboration in unlocking the investment needed to deliver the transition. To learn how we can support you through all stages of the investment life cycle, visit our Private Capital page.

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    Regional Spotlight: Where Will Offshore Wind Growth Happen?

    Offshore wind is at a pivotal moment globally. As countries race to meet ambitious climate targets the demand for clean energy infrastructure has never been greater.

    In this episode, Michael Weatherly, Dan Brown and Elena Lambros examine the global landscape of offshore wind development, the opportunities emerging in new markets, and crucially, how developers and contractors can prepare for the disputes that inevitably arise when projects move into unfamiliar territory.

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    End of year wrap-up

    2025 has been a year of ambition, challenge, and transformation.

    In this episode of Nearing Net Zero, Elena Lambros and Dan Brown reflect on the major themes and developments shaping Australia’s journey toward net zero.



     

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    Australia’s policy and regulatory settings shaping the transition

    Since the adoption of the Paris Agreement in 2015, the global response to climate change has gained significant momentum.

    In this episode of Nearing Net Zero, Elena Lambros and Dan Brown consider if Australia's policy settings are right to deliver the energy transition and achieve our climate targets.
     

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    Past videos

    Australia has recently committed to Nationally Determined Contribution of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 62-70% below 2005 levels by 2035, with an interim target of 43% reduction by 2030.

    In this episode of Nearing Net Zero, Elena Lambros and Dan Brown consider the implications and opportunities of this announcement in the context of the energy and electricity sectors.

     View now

    Australia’s climate policy is at a crossroads. With the return of the Labor government, the nation faces renewed scrutiny over its climate ambitions, the robustness of its carbon markets, and the potential for climate-related litigation.

    In this episode of Nearing Net Zero, Elena Lambros and Dan Brown explore what’s next for Labor government and consider whether we can expect climate litigation to rise or fall.

     View now

    While massive strides have been taken to implement green electricity generation, not all industries can simply replace fossil fuels with electricity.

    In this episode of Nearing Net Zero, Dan Brown and Paul Lingard dive into the evolving opportunities of Power to X – being the ability to harness green electrons and convert them into energy or products to decarbonize 'hard to abate' industries.

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    Organizations are increasingly experiencing scrutiny from shareholders who demand transparency and accountability in how they are managing climate-related risks and opportunities in the face of climate change.

    In this episode of Nearing Net Zero, Elena Lambros and Dan Brown consider how developing and publishing a transition plan can help organizations manage climate risks, comply with regulations, and demonstrate the veracity of strategic decisions.

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    We have a strategic and long-term partnership with Aurecon that brings together legal, risk consulting and technical advisory to provide clients with a new degree of excellence in meeting the challenges and capitalizing on the opportunities in pivoting to a net zero future.

    In conjunction with Aurecon, we are pleased to launch a three-part mini-series focused on how to survive and thrive through the energy transition.

    Tune into the episodes as Elena Lambros, Dan Brown and the Managing Director of Energy at Aurecon, Paul Gleeson, share uncommon insights into the trends shaping Australia's transition.

    Episode 1: Macro geopolitical and economic trends impacting the energy transition

    In this episode of Nearing Net Zero, Dan Brown, Elena Lambros and Paul Gleeson consider how the transition is progressing and what asset classes are capturing the intention of prudent market participants.

    View now


    Episode 2: Decarbonising the last mile: Power to X technologies (including hydrogen) and data centres

    In this episode of Nearing Net Zero, Dan Brown, Elena Lambros and Paul Gleeson consider the role of Power to X technologies as a potential solution while acknowledging the existing investment gap.

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    Episode 3: The changing shape of the national energy portfolio

    In this episode of Nearing Net Zero, Dan Brown, Elena Lambros and Paul Gleeson consider the future role of natural gas in Australia’s energy portfolio.

    View now

    This publication is a joint publication from Ashurst Australia and Ashurst Risk Advisory Pty Ltd, which are part of the Ashurst Group.

    The Ashurst Group comprises Ashurst LLP, Ashurst Australia and their respective affiliates (including independent local partnerships, companies or other entities) which are authorised to use the name "Ashurst" or describe themselves as being affiliated with Ashurst. Some members of the Ashurst Group are limited liability entities.

    Ashurst Australia (ABN 75 304 286 095) is a general partnership constituted under the laws of the Australian Capital Territory.

    Ashurst Risk Advisory Pty Ltd is a proprietary company registered in Australia and trading under ABN 74 996 309 133.

    The services provided by Ashurst Risk Advisory Pty Ltd do not constitute legal services or legal advice, and are not provided by Australian legal practitioners in that capacity. The laws and regulations which govern the provision of legal services in the relevant jurisdiction do not apply to the provision of non-legal services.

    For more information about the Ashurst Group, which Ashurst Group entity operates in a particular country and the services offered, please visit www.ashurst.com.

    This material is current as at 30 July 2026 but does not take into account any developments to the law after that date. It is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and in practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to, and does not constitute legal advice. The information provided is general in nature, and does not take into account and is not intended to apply to any specific issues or circumstances. Readers should take independent legal advice. No part of this publication may be reproduced by any process without prior written permission from Ashurst. While we use reasonable skill and care in the preparation of this material, we accept no liability for use of and reliance upon it by any person.

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    Editorial Disclaimer

    Originally published before the Ashurst Perkins Coie combination. See disclaimer.

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