Australia’s environment groups have united on the eve of the highly-anticipated COAG energy council meeting to send a message to state and federal ministers: Stand up to fossil fuel bullies and back a plan for 100% renewables.
A coordinated attack on renewables from the fossil fuel lobby since July has stoked community interest in the usually quiet COAG energy council meeting.
Citizens from around the country will have their eyes on Canberra tomorrow to see whether energy ministers such as Josh Frydenberg have the resolve to stand up to the fossil fuel sector.
The fossil fuel sector’s attempt to undermine renewable energy’s reputation and destabilise states who are taking leadership has backfired…
Community members will join Solar Citizens and FoE’s Yes 2 Renewables team for a snap rally held outside the COAG energy council meeting.
The community will be present in Canberra to act as a watchdog and provide support for ministers who stand up for Australia’s renewable energy future (event details here).
Join us in Canberra THIS FRIDAY to call on COAG to stand up for renewables! https://t.co/13H11qZLAm #CBR #Auspol pic.twitter.com/lhKN7gvKkN
— Yes 2 Renewables (@Yes2Renewables) August 16, 2016
Friends of the Earth are pleased to join environmental groups for the following media statement:
Transition to 100% renewable energy: inevitable, essential, achievable
Call for a national energy roadmap to phase out all coal fired power and guide Australia towards 100% renewable electricity.
Eleven community groups with more than 1.5 million supporters have urged federal and state energy ministers to set a clear pathway for energy market reform when the ministers meet at the COAG energy meeting in Canberra on Friday.
The groups are calling on ministers to develop a national energy roadmap to phase out all coal fired power stations, guide Australia towards 100% renewable electricity before 2035 and help affected workers and communities with the transition.
Two reports released in the last week show the electricity market and Australia’s existing energy arrangements are failing the environment and electricity consumers.
“With bleaching badly damaging the Great Barrier Reef this year and monthly temperature records becoming the new normal, closing Australia’s coal-fired power plants becomes absolutely necessary,” said Australian Conservation Foundation CEO Kelly O’Shanassy.
“The clean energy revolution is here, but it needs a plan to avoid disruption, look after communities and stop power price spikes that happen when companies play the market.”
“Not only is 100% renewable energy 100% doable, it’s also 100% better,” said GetUp’s Climate Justice Campaigns Director Miriam Lyons.
“This transition is Australia’s chance to break the market power of big polluters that have been pushing up power prices, making us sick and wrecking the planet.
“Recent events in South Australia show a handful of big polluters have too much power to push up prices – the best way to break that power is to increase competition from renewables.”
“Australia’s political leaders should know how popular renewable energy is across the country by seeing how many households have invested their own money in solar power systems,” said Solar Citizens’ National Director Claire O’Rourke.
“We now need a national plan to harness the multi-billion dollar renewables boom and manage the orderly transition to 100% clean renewable power.”
TAKE ACTION:
- Attend the SNAP RALLY calling on COAG to stand up against the fossil fuel bullies and back renewables. National Convention Centre Canberra, Friday August 19. RSVP here.
- Join the renewable energy defence… Show your support by taking a #DefendRenewables selfie and posting it on social media.
