Getting off gas
Gas is a harmful fossil fuel that produces a lot of climate pollution, no matter where we extract, process and burn it. Australia is one of the world’s biggest exporters of gas, meaning we have an outsize role in fuelling climate change around the world. It’s time to power past gas at home and in our exports, and into cleaner, safer energy for our kids.
The good news is: we can, and we already are. Aussie households are disconnecting from gas like never before, and embracing the benefits of all-electric homes with lower bills. Big businesses and industries are getting off gas as efficient electric technologies powered by clean, renewable energy take centre stage. Our international energy partners like Japan and South Korea are getting off gas too.
That’s why gas has a small and shrinking role to play in our clean energy mix. We don’t need any more of it, so it’s time we face the facts and start a sensible phase out of gas – starting with ending the approval of any new polluting gas projects and phasing it out of our homes, businesses and exports.
CTA
We recently delivered our petition, calling for stronger nature laws and an end to fossil fuel project approvals under our current law directly to Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek. Find out more and watch the video with our friends at Bushfire Survivors for Climate Action.
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Australia’s shift to clean energy is already well under way. Already, one in three Australian households have put solar panels on their rooftops, and 40 percent of our main national energy grid is powered by clean sources.
More than 80 percent of the gas produced here is either shipped to Asian markets as liquefied gas, or used to liquefy gas for export. We only use a fraction of what we produce here at home.
By expanding our clean energy capacity this decade, we can limit gas to a small ‘firming’ role in Australia’s electricity grid, halve gas use in our homes and businesses and cut gas use by one-third across our industries. In fact, we have more than enough gas to meet the needs of Aussie families, businesses and industries during this transition. Gas from Australia’s existing projects through to 2035 would be enough to power our own energy needs for 64 years.
To avoid adding to our pollution problems, Australia should stop building new gas projects and start prioritising clean energy and industry alternatives. Phasing out gas exports at the same time as we get off gas at home would see Australia take control of our energy and export future. We can build up clean industries with a bright future over the years ahead, as we scale down this highly polluting, declining one.
Core Research
