The Federal Government wants renewable energy doubled in the next five years, but Australia’s fossil fuel exports are increasing

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Renewable energy is powering around 40 percent of Australia’s electricity grid. The federal government wants doubled in the next five years. But even as these moves take place, fossil fuel exports are increasing.

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00:00Australia's Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen, is the president

00:06of negotiations for the next climate change conference next year. Which is nice. It seems

00:12to be a consolation prize for Australia not hosting it, which Turkey will do. But Mr

00:16Bowen says it will give Australia and the Pacific unprecedented influence over what

00:21happens.

00:22Obviously it would be great if Australia could have it all.

00:27And it will also continue the tradition of fossil fuel producers running the climate

00:31change show. Which is why the words fossil fuel were left out of last week's COP30 communique

00:37in Brazil. And after 30 of these meetings, emissions are still rising.

00:43Australia is the world's third largest fossil fuel exporter. And the Albanese government

00:47has approved 32 new coal and gas projects since being elected in 2022. Presumably shooting

00:53for number one. Australia, in short, is the ultimate Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde when it comes

00:59to climate change. Although we don't switch by drinking a potion. We're good and bad at

01:05the same time. And we are pretty good. Apart from saying the right things and legislating

01:10ambitious emissions targets, our own electricity system is now 42 per cent renewable on average.

01:17The other day at 1 o'clock in the afternoon it was 65 per cent. And coal generation is expected

01:22to be zero in 13 years. But our exports simply blow that record away. Coal exports are starting

01:30to decline because it's more expensive now than renewables, but they're still very large.

01:35Gas is still rising. And with all the approvals for new projects, it's only going to keep rising.

01:40Of course, the argument is that if we don't supply the coal and gas, someone else will. But that's

01:46a bit like a drug dealer saying that if he doesn't supply the cocaine, someone else will.

01:52And in a way, fossil fuels are a drug that the world became hooked on and is now in rehab.

01:59And you're going to change your education sector. Yea, anyway, so you know your

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