Managing reputation when the world won’t sit still
With a history of working at the intersection of agriculture and climate, Currie led a project exploring renewable energy and transmission. Our experience working with farmers suggested there was a critical issue worth examining more closely: poor engagement was driving opposition to projects essential for the clean energy transition.
More than half of Australia’s land mass is managed by farmers, which makes them central to the transition. Farmers are trusted voices in their communities and in the national conversation on climate and energy. To better understand community sentiment, we partnered with Researchscape to survey Australians. Of 11 groups, farmers ranked as the fourth most trusted source on climate change and fifth on renewable energy.
At the same time, research showed a much more positive picture of regional attitudes than public debate often suggests, with up to 70% of regional Australians, including those in renewable energy zones, supporting the transition.
Our research reinforced that effective engagement requires genuine two-way dialogue. Farmers and rural communities need access to information to make informed decisions, but they also need to be heard. They understand their local environments, opportunities and constraints better than anyone.
International examples highlight what’s possible. Denmark’s Middelgrunden wind farm is 50% owned by 10,000 cooperative members, ensuring local benefits and demonstrating how local participation can build support. In Australia, initiatives such as Hay Shire Council’s partnership with RE-Alliance show the value of community co-design from the outset.
We also found that benefit-sharing can play an important role when designed well. By extending benefits beyond host landholders to the wider community, approaches such as neighbour payments, community funds and energy bill reductions can help avoid divisions and build broader support.
Ultimately, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Every farming community is different. A tailored, consultative approach is essential to maintaining trust and ensuring the clean energy transition delivers lasting economic, social and environmental benefits.
