NO ONE LIKES TO BE LEFT BEHIND

It’s common sense to most of us that as one of the sunniest and windiest countries in the world Australia has unrivalled renewable energy potential. But our latest report finds that we’re losing out on opportunities and investment to countries like China and the US – who are surging ahead with renewable energy.

In the past year alone investment in Australian renewables has dropped back 70%.

Read our latest report to see more about how Australia’s efforts to tackle climate change measure up against the rest of the world.

The good news story globally is that China consolidated its position as the world’s renewable energy powerhouse in the past year with 2.6 million people employed in renewable energy jobs and renewables providing nearly one fifth of China’s annual electricity generation.

China installed more renewable energy capacity than fossil fuels in 2013. It also retired 77 gigawatts (GW) of coal power stations between 2006 and 2010 and aims to retire a further 20 GW by 2015.

The US is also rapidly exploiting the global shift to renewable energy, coming second only to China for installed renewable energy.

Read our latest report for more on the global response to climate change and how Australia measures up. 

What’s clear is that the world is building towards a tipping point of action and nations are now fiercely competing for low carbon investment. The global energy transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy is now underway.

Whereas in the past China and the US may have been viewed as laggards, today they they have stepped up to the plate and are providing substantial global leadership.

Australia continues to lag behind the rest of the world on tackling climate change. There is much more to be done if we are to protect Australians from a changing climate. Please help me to make sure as many people as possible are aware of this by sharing the report’s important findings with your networks. 

Onwards

Amanda McKenzie

CEO Climate Council

P.S. The media is already reporting on Australia’s lack of action – see The Australian, the BBC, the Daily Telegraph, The Sydney Morning Herald, ABC News, Prime 7, and Sky News. Help us make this story bigger by sharing the report and the coverage.