Australia can switch from fossil fuel exports to renewables, says next Cop president

Australia will find exporting fossil fuels increasingly difficult but can switch to exporting clean energy products, the president of the next UN climate negotiations has declared.

Speaking at a climate conference in Bonn, Germany, Chris Bowen, Australia’s minister for climate change and energy, argued his country had led the global push to “transition away from fossil fuels” – based on the rapid growth of renewable energy and batteries in its domestic power grids – and that its economy could manage the switch.

Australia is one of the world’s biggest exporters of coal and gas, and the Labor government of Anthony Albanese has approved more than 30 fossil fuel developments and expansions since its election in 2022. But Bowen acknowledged fossil fuels and high-carbon goods would face a shrinking market.

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

On renewable energy, Bowen said: “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.”

He said Australia, which along with the Pacific Islands pushed for UN talks in 2023 to resolve to “transition away from fossil fuels” for the first time, had many advantages. “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,” he said.

The Bonn talks come as the Australian government is under pressure at home from a right wing opposed to climate action. One Nation, a political party that denies temperatures are increasing and extreme weather events are worsening, received 6% of the vote in last year’s federal election but has leapt to about 30% support in recent polling.