Climate change
Australia is pursuing a range of activities to advance our ambitious climate change agenda, promote trade and investment across green economy sectors and build cooperation to reduce emissions and support the global energy transformation.
Singapore-Australia Green Economy Agreement
Australia and Singapore have concluded a world first Green Economy Agreement. Australian Government funding of $19.6 million over four years will advance bilateral co-operation in clean hydrogen and renewable energy trade by identifying and reducing non-tariff barriers, promoting collaboration between Australian and Singaporean green sector businesses and fostering standards and conformance harmonisation.
Republic of Korea-Australia Green Economy Agreement
In December 2024, Australia and the Republic of Korea signed a Green Economy Partnership Agreement on Climate and Energy increasing cooperation to build new renewable energy industries, diversity supply chains and work together to achieve our net zero ambitions.
Franco Australian Centre for Energy Transition
A key element of the Australia France Roadmap, the Australia France Energy Transition Program, delivered by the Franco Australian Centre for Energy Transition (FACET) brings together institutions, businesses and academia to pool knowledge and funds research, start-ups and small-medium enterprises in undertaking industrial projects. FACET hosted its inaugural annual symposium in Melbourne in October 2024.
Both governments have committed annual funding until 2027, Australia committing $1 million and France EUR1 million. In the first $3.5 million grant round, projects include:
- development of a pilot industrial demonstrator for e-fuel production
- tech and commercial support for start-ups of innovative energy transition solutions
- research into future battery solutions
- leveraging AI to create smarter grids in managing variable renewable energy.
Indo-Pacific Economic Framework
The 14-member Indo-Pacific Economic Framework negotiations cover a range of issues including on the environment, clean energy, decarbonisation and infrastructure. Members include Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, the United States, and Viet Nam.
Pillar three of the Ministerial Statement enacting the framework focuses on Clean Economy through five key collaboration goals:
- Energy Security and Transition
- Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reductions in Priority Sectors
- Sustainable Land, Water, and Ocean Solutions
- Innovative Technologies for Greenhouse Gas Removal
- Incentives to Enable the Clean Economy Transition
International clean energy partnerships
Australia is working closely with international partners to advance practical action on climate change and build new clean energy industries.
The Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water manages international clean energy partnerships with China, Germany, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, the United Kingdom, the United States and the Netherlands.
Resources and energy sector
For assistance with exports or investment in the resources and energy sector visit the Austrade website.
First Nations
The First Nations Clean Energy Network, established in November 2021, seeks to ensure First Nations people and communities play a central role and harness the opportunities from Australia's renewable energy boom.
The Australian Government released the First Nations Clean Energy Strategy on 6 December 2024, which provides a national framework to guide investment, influence policy, and support First Nations people to self-determine how they participate in, and benefit from, Australia’s clean energy transition.
DFAT established the Office for First Nations International Engagement, led by the Ambassador for First Nations People. The Office is working in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to develop and implement a First Nations approach to foreign policy. This includes identifying new areas of cooperation between First Nations communities and our international partners – including on trade and investment, and climate change.
Australia is a founding participant of the Indigenous Peoples Economic and Trade Cooperation Arrangement , a non-binding cooperation based arrangement to strengthen the economic empowerment of Indigenous Peoples in our region and beyond. The agreement identifies climate net zero and renewable energy as priorities for strengthening the economic empowerment of Indigenous Peoples.
Aviation and maritime emissions reduction
Australia is committed to reducing carbon emissions from aviation.
Australia is developing a Maritime Emissions Reduction National Action Plan to support Australia’s national emissions reduction targets and contribute to global shipping decarbonisation.
For more information see the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts website.