Extract from ABC News
Australia has joined more than 100 other countries across the globe in committing to a tripling of renewable energy capacity by the end of the decade in another coup for the organisers of this year's UN climate talks.
Key points:
- The goal has been described as hugely ambitious and would involve adding an amount of renewable energy that would be enough to power the United States every year by 2030
- The government had to rewrite the blueprint for Australia's domestic target amid concerns the country would fall short
- The domestic plan has come under fire from the federal opposition over claims it will expose taxpayers to too much risk
The 28th conference of the parties — otherwise known as COP — is underway in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, where a series of agreements have given early momentum to the goals of tackling global warming.
Another took place overnight, when Australia announced it would get on board with efforts — spearheaded by event host the UAE — to increase the amount of green energy in the world by 200 per cent within seven years.
The goal has been described as hugely ambitious and would involve adding an amount of renewable energy that would be enough to power the United States every year by 2030.
Federal Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen, who will be Australia's top representative in Dubai, said the country was already well on the way towards meeting its own 2030 green energy target of 82 per cent.
Mr Bowen said the "signature initiative" of the UAE at COP28 made sense given the need for a global push to clean up the international economy and the fact that renewable sources, particularly solar, were now the cheapest forms energy.
"Today the Albanese Government joins over 100 countries, alongside other major energy exporters the United States, Canada, Norway and more, to support a key push on renewables and energy efficiency," Mr Bowen said.
"We know that renewables are the cleanest and cheapest form of energy – and that energy efficiency can also help drive down bills and emissions.
"That's why the Albanese Government is supporting the UAE's signature initiative to triple global renewable energy generation capacity and double global average annual energy efficiency improvements by 2030."
Australia's embrace of much loftier renewable energy goals comes just days after the government had to rewrite the blueprint for its own, domestic target amid concerns the country would fall short.
Under the shake-up announced late last month, the government has outlined plans to use taxpayer subsidies through its "capacity investment scheme" to underwrite renewable energy projects and the so-called firming capacity that would be needed to back them up, such as batteries.
While the plan has won approval from renewable energy developers and environmentalists, it has also come under fire from the federal opposition over claims it will expose taxpayers to too much risk.
In announcing the government's support for a tripling of renewable energy globally, Mr Bowen suggested the rest of the world could learn from Australia's early lead on some aspects of the energy transition.
He noted Australia led the world in the uptake of rooftop solar power — about one in every three homes has an installation — while it was also well-placed to develop clean export industries such as green hydrogen.
"Australia has the highest penetration of rooftop solar in the world and has a plan for 82 per cent renewables by 2030," the minister said.
"Our expanded Capacity Investment Scheme will help deliver 32 gigawatts of new renewable generation and storage, providing certainty for renewable investors and cheaper, cleaner energy for households and businesses.
"And while Australia has a plan to get to 82 per cent renewables by 2030 to deliver cleaner, cheaper and more reliable energy, for emissions to go down around the world, we need a big international push."
Richie Merzian, the international director at lobby group the Smart Energy Council, applauded the announcement.
"It is a refreshing change to see an Australian Government back the right kind of energy at the UN climate conference," Mr Merzian said.
"Australia is attempting to triple its renewable energy capacity at home and now the Albanese Government is joining the call to triple global renewable capacity by 2030."
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