David McEwen

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David McEwen

#2 most read in

Energy Transition

David McEwen is a Director at Adaptive Capability, a consultancy specializing in climate risk and emissions reduction strategy, program, and project management. He collaborates with businesses, community leaders, policymakers, designers, and engineers to drive change. His book, Navigating the Adaptive Economy, was published in 2016. David holds an MBA from the Australian Graduate School of Management and a certificate in Sustainability and Climate Risk from the Global Association of Risk Professionals.

David McEwen

Jul 21 2026

Technologically easy, morally hard: climate action demands a systemic reorientation, before collapse

Illuminem Voices

Climate Change · ESG

The barrier to climate action was never physics or engineering. It is the moral architecture of our political economy

A wooden table with a typewriter, glasses, notebook, and pen placed on top.

Recent publications

illuminem

Jun 26 2026

Energy Transition · Energy

TOP 10 Most-Read Thought Leaders in Energy Transition

David McEwen

Jun 23 2026

Renewables · Energy Transition

35% electrification by 2035: the challenge for Australia

David McEwen

Nov 06 2025

Ethical Governance · Environmental Sustainability

The veneer of civilisation: lessons from childhood, comedy and Wall‑E

David McEwen

Apr 15 2024

Environmental Sustainability · Climate Change

We’re thinking about climate risk the wrong way

David McEwen

Mar 03 2024

Sustainable Mobility · Mobility Tech

Onions, orchestration and opportunity (III/III): the 3 “O’s” of EVs and charging

David McEwen

Feb 23 2024

Sustainable Business · Sustainable Mobility

Onions, orchestration and opportunity (II/III): the 3 “O’s” of EVs and charging

David McEwen

Feb 16 2024

Electric Vehicles · Sustainable Mobility

Onions, orchestration and opportunity (I/III): the 3 “O’s” of EVs and charging

David McEwen

Oct 12 2023

Power Grid · Power & Utilities

The problem with electrification? Friction

David McEwen

Aug 25 2023

Pollution · Nature

Why is methane so important in the climate fight? A quick breakdown

David McEwen

May 02 2023

Renewables · Carbon

Enough with ‘but China!’ - it’s the rest of us who need to catch up

David McEwen

Mar 30 2023

Carbon Regulations · Sustainability Law

The prisoner's dilemma – why is Australia (still) backsliding on climate action?

David McEwen

Mar 29 2023

Environmental Sustainability · Energy Transition

Energy to waste – fossil fuels’ dirty secret

David McEwen

Feb 21 2023

Climate Change · Environmental Sustainability

Why the climate denialists’ conspiracy theory doesn’t stack up

David McEwen

Mar 14 2022

Environmental Sustainability · Climate Change

We’re heading for net-zero – what does it mean for buildings?

David McEwen

Feb 14 2022

Energy · Petrochemicals

Getting Off Gas

The words 'dream big' written on a black wall

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