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A nation on the move: New tool tracks Australia's climate progress

The Climate Council

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WEDNESDAY 20TH NOVEMBER 2024

 

A nation on the move: New tool tracks Australia’s climate progress

 

Millions of Australian homes and businesses are driving a surge in clean energy adoption, embracing rooftop solar, batteries, and cleaner transport choices. Australia has established a good foundation and our energy, transport, and manufacturing industries can build on this to cut climate pollution further. 

 

Today the Council Council unveils a new tool, Momentum Monitor to track progress in each sector. Progress has been analysed using publicly available Australian government data and will now be collated and monitored quarterly.

 

Key Findings

  • Renewable energy made up about 40% of electricity in the national grid in the past 12 months.

  • Utility-scale renewables and storage now represent 32 gigawatts (GW) of total grid-scale capacity, an increase of 12% since July 2023.

  • More than 240,000 rooftop solar installations have occurred since the start of 2024, with four million households now powering their homes with rooftop solar.

  • The number of Australian households powered by a battery alongside their rooftop solar has already increased by 23% this year.

  • Australia now has more than 160,000 registered electric vehicles, with sales expected to climb as the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard starts in 2025.

Climate Council CEO, Amanda McKenzie, said: “These numbers highlight the stunning progress we've made and how far we can still go. Australian households and industries are jumping on opportunities to use readily-available, proven, technologies.

“Most Australians don’t know that we are already powered 40% by renewable power. This monitoring tool will give the community ready access to this information and support good decision making.”

“We can continue to make big cuts to climate pollution by cleaning up how we power ourselves, changing how we move around, and powering industry with cleaner and more efficient energy. These changes can be as simple as opting for the bus or bike instead of the petrol car, or powering our homes with sunshine.”

Australia is in a prime position to take advantage of the climate solutions available as the sunniest country in the world and one of the windiest. Large-scale solar and wind, backed up by storage (massive batteries and hydro power), can provide clean, safe power for Australia 24/7.

“A 21st century challenge calls for 21st century solutions. Efforts to slash climate pollution are already empowering Australians by saving us money, strengthening our homegrown industries and creating new ones, all while helping to protect us from the worsening effects of climate change,” said McKenzie.

“We've already made a lot of progress, and we can set our communities up for success by building on this to create a healthier, cleaner future for all Australians alive today, as well as every generation to come.”

View the Momentum Monitor here.

ENDS

For interviews please contact the Climate Council media team on 0485 863 063, media@climatecouncil.org.au


About us:

The Climate Council is Australia’s leading community-funded climate change communications organisation. We provide authoritative, expert and evidence-based advice on climate change to journalists, policymakers, and the wider Australian community. For further information, go to: climatecouncil.org.au or follow us on social media: facebook.com/climatecouncil and twitter.com/climatecouncil

Attachments

20112024_Media Release_A nation on the move_ New tool tracks Australia's climate progress.pdf

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