Australia can export clean energy, not just fossil fuels, says incoming COP president

Australia faces a future where exporting fossil fuels will become increasingly challenging, but it possesses the potential to pivot towards exporting clean energy products, according to Chris Bowen, the president-designate of the next UN climate negotiations. Speaking at a climate conference in Bonn, Germany, Bowen, who also serves as Australia's minister for climate change and energy, asserted that his country has historically led the global effort to "transition away from fossil fuels." He highlighted the rapid growth of renewable energy and battery storage within Australia's domestic power grids as evidence of its capacity to manage such an economic shift.

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We have to recognise that the world is committed to net zero – more than 80% of our trading partners are committed to net zero. The world is changing. We can pretend that’s not happening, as some in Australian domestic politics do. Or we can prepare.

Despite Australia being one of the world's largest exporters of coal and gas, and the current Labor government having approved numerous fossil fuel developments since 2022, Bowen acknowledged the shrinking market for high-carbon goods. "The world is changing. We can pretend that’s not happening, as some in Australian domestic politics do. Or we can prepare," he stated, emphasizing that over 80% of Australia's trading partners are committed to net-zero emissions.

Bowen pointed to Australia's strong track record in renewable energy, suggesting the nation could play a significant role in decarbonizing other countries. "If you look at how we can work on our role as a potential renewable energy superpower, we could play a much bigger role in reducing emissions internationally," he said. He noted that Australia, which advocated for the UN's 2023 resolution to "transition away from fossil fuels," benefits from abundant renewable resources, a distinct advantage not shared by all nations.

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Our track record on that is pretty strong now. Australia can play a role in decarbonising many countries. If you look at how we can work on our role as a potential renewable energy superpower, we could play a much bigger role in reducing emissions internationally.

The discussions in Bonn occur amid domestic political pressure on the Australian government from a right-wing opposition skeptical of climate action. Bowen's remarks also come as Australia leads in household solar installations and battery adoption, with a substantial portion of homes equipped with rooftop solar panels and hundreds of thousands of small batteries installed. This shift has reduced reliance on expensive gas-fired power and begun to lower energy bills. Beyond exporting green energy, Australia could also export goods and services produced using clean energy, such as green hydrogen, green artificial intelligence, and services for data centers, catering to companies and countries aiming to reduce their carbon footprint.

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Yes, we’re a large fossil fuels exporter. But we also happen to have huge potential in the renewable energy sector. We’re blessed in that regard. Not every country can do that.