Australia can switch from fossil fuel exports to renewables, says next Cop president
Australia’s climate minister and incoming COP31 president Chris Bowen says the country can transition from being a major fossil fuel exporter to a renewable energy superpower, adapting to a shrinking market for high-carbon goods.
Chris Bowen, Australia’s minister for climate change and energy who will preside over the next UN climate summit (COP31) in Turkey this November, told a conference in Bonn that Australia faces increasing difficulties in exporting fossil fuels but can pivot to clean energy products. He acknowledged that the market for coal, gas, and other high-carbon goods is shrinking, as more than 80% of Australia’s trading partners have committed to net-zero emissions.
Bowen highlighted Australia’s strong domestic renewable energy record: over one in three homes have rooftop solar panels, and more than 400,000 small batteries have been installed since a government subsidy program began in July. This has reduced demand for expensive gas-fired power and lowered electricity bills. He argued that Australia is uniquely positioned to become a “renewable energy superpower,” exporting green hydrogen, electricity via cables, and even services such as green artificial intelligence and data centres.
Despite the Labor government’s approval of over 30 fossil fuel projects since 2022, Bowen stressed the need to prepare for change. He noted domestic political opposition from parties like One Nation, which denies climate change and has seen a surge in support to around 30% in recent polls. However, he insisted that pretending the world is not changing is not an option. The preparatory talks in Bonn focus on electrification, which Turkish Environment Minister Murat Kurum called “the most important tool in the toolkit” to achieve the 1.5°C global warming limit.
