We have the technology. The need has never been more urgent.
That's the message from the third and final report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in its sixth assessment.
"Renewable energy is here now and has been doing the lion's share of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Australia," said Clean Energy Council Chief Executive, Kane Thornton. "It is a proven technology with enormous potential to reduce carbon efficiently and cost-effectively long into the future."
The IPCC makes it clear that the way to contain global warming to 1.5 degrees is through a massive deployment of wind, solar and storage as the most efficient way of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
"In the leadup to the Federal Election, the Clean Energy Council is advocating for an electricity grid powered by 100 per cent renewable energy by 2030 to deliver emissions reductions of 44.5 per cent based on 2005 levels," said Thornton. "This isn't an ambitious or difficult target; it's the low-hanging fruit and should be an absolute priority for the next Federal Government.
"Continued policy uncertainty combined with the challenges associated with connecting renewable energy projects to the grid has stunted the pipeline for new large-scale renewable energy projects, with the level of financial commitments falling by more than 17 per cent from $4.5 billion in 2020 to $3.7 billion in 2021. Canberra should be doing everything in its power to facilitate private investment in renewable energy.
"More change is coming. Renewable energy now accounts for 32.5 per cent of Australia's electricity – a figure that's almost doubled since 2017 – but now is the time to accelerate clean energy investment with the clock ticking for the fossil fuel industry. It is critical that industry, government, unions and communities work together to manage this inevitable transition so that people and their communities aren't left behind."
ENDS
For more information contact:
Jane Aubrey
Clean Energy Council Media Manager
[email protected]
+61 409 470 683
