A new and positive direction for Australian energy and climate action

The new battle: tackling emissions

The Labor party has been at the helm of federal parliament for just three months and how things have changed. Endless conflicts over polluting fossil fuels have been replaced by action to battle emissions. The dynamic shift has delivered a sense of relief mixed with optimism.

SPRING HAS ARRIVED IN AUSTRALIA

and brought with it renewed hope for expansion of renewables, and emissions reductions on the back of the new Labor government’s raft of policies and targets. It’s a much welcome U-turn on the dark days under the Coalition.

The Sydney Energy Forum of early July sent a strong signal when Prime Minister Albanese declared “We will lay a new foundation for sustainable growth and prosperity, [one that] will move us from an era of inaction and delay to one where we create new jobs, new industries and drive down emissions.

In the event co-hosted with the International Energy Agency, Albanese laid out plans to unlock $52 billion of private sector investment in Australian industries on the back of economic reform and economic growth while creating 604,000 extra jobs.

All the right messages

“By the end of this decade, renewable energy will make up 82 per cent of our National Energy Market; we will accelerate the decarbonisation of our electricity grid [through] batteries and energy storage; clean energy component manufacturing; hydrogen electrolysers; and fuel switching,” Albanese stated.

“Crucially, we will work with business and industry to drive emissions down in a way that is consistent with reaching net zero emissions by 2050.