Japan Institute Director Llewelyn Hughes speaks at the Australian Institute for International Affairs National Conference

The Australian Institute for International Affairs (AIIA) National Conference is Australia’s leading event on Australian foreign policy, bringing together some of Australia’s most prominent international affairs experts to examine new developments in international affairs and the place of Australian foreign policy within them.

The 2023 conference – titled Navigating the Perfect Storm: Australian Foreign Policy and the Polycrisis - was held on 13 November in Canberra, Australia. ANU Japan Institute Director and Professor at the Crawford School of Public Policy Llewelyn Hughes spoke at the session on energy and environment on how Australia can use the tools of statecraft to support rapid decarbonisation of our region in response to climate change.

Hughes noted that recent data suggests we are reaching peak demand for coal, gas and oil, with profound implications for Australia’s export profile and foreign relations with its trading partners in the Asia-Pacific region, including Japan. He also noted there are large uncertainties around future estimates of fuel demand, which will be shaped by policies introduced by trading partners such as Japan. One implication of this uncertainty is we need to know more about our neighbouring countries including Japan. Hughes noted that the Asian Studies Association of Australia’s recent report on Asia Literacy points one pathway forward, proposing a new federal strategy on Asia literacy, renewing federal government support for Asian languages, and deepening Australia’s research links with universities in the Asia-Pacific region.

You can find out more about the AIIA conference here: https://www.aiianationalconference.org/