Emerging industries like green metals and low-carbon fuels, such as green hydrogen and sustainable aviation fuels, are at the forefront of Australia’s transition to clean energy.
GHD’s Global Program Lead – Future Energy, Sarah Fitzgerald, said these industries are set to drive Australia’s economy forward while ensuring the nation meets global climate goals.
“Clean energy isn’t just a necessity; it’s a platform for economic growth, job creation, and a resilient future,” she said.
However, there is still more work to do to convince Australians to actively participate in the clean energy transition, according to the latest findings of the GHD CROSSROADS report.
GHD’s CROSSROADS report is based on a comprehensive survey conducted across 10 countries: Australia, Canada, Chile, New Zealand, the Philippines, Qatar, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
A total of 13,000 adults, sampled to be representative of age, gender and region in these countries, participated in the survey.
On the upside the report found Australians overwhelmingly back the nation’s transition to clean energy, citing the potential for economic growth and job creation as the positive aspects of this change.
Some 59 per cent of respondents believe the country is heading in the right direction with its energy transition.
However, this figure ranked Australians among the most pessimistic of the 10 countries surveyed.
“Despite the prevailing pessimism, Australia is uniquely positioned to lead the global clean energy transition,” FitzGerald said.
“We have abundant sunshine, available land, skilled workers and a stable and committed government, making us the envy of many countries.
“We possess the essential foundations to not only meet our clean energy needs but to use energy to drive a prosperous future.”
There is a strong demand among Australians for greater investment in clean energy at the community level, with 72 per cent agreeing that the energy industry should do more to build a cleaner energy future locally.
Australians are also calling on their governments to play a more proactive role.
The survey revealed 70 per cent of Australians believe that government financial support for households and businesses is essential to accelerate the adoption of clean energy technologies, while 74 per cent agree that more should be done to educate communities about the importance of clean energy.
“The findings highlight the need for a stronger, more coordinated approach between government, industry, and the public to ensure both the understanding and success of Australia’s clean energy transition,” FitzGerald said.
Around 75 per cent said they are actively practising more eco-friendly habits to reduce their impact on climate change.
This level of commitment is also the lowest among the 10 countries surveyed, indicating that while Australians are willing to act, there is still room for improvement to engage more deeply with the energy transition.
“There is a clear need for improved education and community engagement to ensure that Australians feel informed and empowered to actively participate in the energy transition and to pave Australia’s path to clean energy future,” FitzGerald said.