Luisa F Bedoya Taborda, Environmental Lawyer and PhD candidate at the School of Project Management studying the impact of climate change in communities affected by conflict says:
“Australia’s new target, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 62–70 percent by 2035, is a significant and necessary policy advance. While some argue this will cost jobs, slow the economy, and lower living standards, the evidence shows the opposite: investment in clean energy creates more jobs than fossil fuels, renewable industries are already driving regional growth, and energy efficiency lowers household bills.
“Jobs and Skills Australia in its 2023 report ‘The Clean Energy Generation’ identified 38 critical occupations inn the clean-energy economy, including trade, technical and professional roles that are projected to grow significantly and faster than the average in the broader workforce. The same report estimates that thousands of workers will be needed in generation, transmission, storage, and other supporting infrastructure if Australia is to meet net-zero emissions by mid-century.
“A modelling study by the Clean Energy Council highlights that under an 82 percent renewables scenario by 2030, Australia would gain tens of thousands of jobs, particularly in construction and operations and maintenance of renewable energy infrastructure. The estimations are between 2026-2030, 37,700 construction “job-years” and 5,000 operations and maintenance “job-years” would be created. Even now, around 30,000 people are employed in clean energy, in regional Australia, and about 40,000 jobs are expected by 2030.