In fewer than six years, Australia has doubled the share of renewable electricity in our main grid and, today, more than 3.6 million Australian households have installed rooftop solar to reduce their power bills and slash climate pollution.
Nowhere is our rapid shift towards an economy powered by renewable energy more visible than at the state and territory level, where governments, communities and households are leading the charge. Most importantly, the collective result of these efforts is that we are well on the way to meeting Australia’s national climate pollution reduction target of 43% by 2030.
Now, we need to go even further and move even faster. We can seize the decade by accelerating towards a clean economy that creates better health outcomes and good, long-term job opportunities in renewable energy and clean industries for every Australian child alive today, as well as every generation to come.
Our kids’ futures depend on the choices we make now, and there is no time to waste.
As we accelerate towards a cleaner, more diverse and more prosperous economy, it is important to take stock of how far we’ve come and the acknowledged the benefits that are already being enjoyed by millions of Australians.
Our momentum is huge, and unstoppable. In just six years, we have more than doubled the share of clean electricity in our grid. One in three Aussie homes has solar on the roof. We are driving more electric vehicles than ever. And, perhaps most importantly, all of our biggest states except Western Australia have set stronger renewable energy and emissions reduction targets which are helping to prioritise resources, drive faster cuts to climate pollution and track progress.
Now is the time to accelerate our efforts. We can go further and faster so that even more Australians benefit.
The Climate Council acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we live, meet and work. We wish to pay our respects to Elders past and present and recognise the continuous connection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to land, water and Country.