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What is sustainability and CUSP?

Sustainability shows us how we can reduce our planetary footprint while improving quality of life for all. It creatively integrates ecological, social, economic and cultural perspectives, offering new policy and practice possibilities.

The CUSP Institute is a leading-edge, internationally recognised research, teaching and policy advice provider in sustainability with an innovative approach to its implementation through demonstrations and partnerships with business, government and the community. CUSP has grown quickly into being a major contributor to the academic life of Curtin and to the broader community with its emphasis on practitioner-oriented policy research.

Our pillars of sustainability

CUSP’s research interests cover four key areas:

Sustainable cities

City policy, urban planning, sustainable transport, reducing urban sprawl, green and affordable buildings, decarbonising urban development, biophilic urbanism, 21st century planning tools,water and waste, walkable urban design and sustainability policy

Participatory sustainability

New governance models based on collective intelligence, wisdom and power of people for a sustainable planet with sustainable civilizations societies, and communities.

Green innovation systems

Innovation in technology, renewable energy, value systems. population policy, women and development, structural and cultural changes, new business models and professional activity.

Resilient systems

Climate adaptation, coastal sustainability, culture and science-governance dialogue to enable natural systems to perform more sustainably.