Wrapping Up Energy Partnership Conference in Adelaide

The AJBCC’s recent conference Transitioning Australia-Japan Energy Partnership – Towards a Carbon-Neutral 2050 in Adelaide really hit the spot, with over 200 participants from government, business and the research sector engaging in site visits and networking events and conducting lively and constructive conversations over two days. The extent of support for the concept of enhanced bilateral consultation on the clean energy transition was clear, with nearly 30 relevant organisations sponsoring or supporting the event.

Key takeouts included:

• • Strong commitment from both countries to the shared goal of carbon neutrality by 2050, while recognising that transition would necessarily be a long and complex process;
  • Increased understanding of the different circumstances of both countries, the fact that each would have its own path to decarbonisation but that our huge energy relationship would mean decisions in each country had the potential to have major impacts in the other;
  • A strong stress on the importance of ensuring security of energy supply is maintained through the transition; and that existing fuels such as gas, with suitable abatement measures, would have an ongoing, critical role to play in underpinning successful decarbonisation;
  • Widespread agreement on the importance of the role of government measures in shepherding new technologies to commercial viability, and on the need for such measures to be inclusive of all technologies that might contribute to the goal of decarbonisation – a “technology-agnostic” approach;
  • Neither public nor private sector funding alone can singularly meet the energy transition challenge – close coordination and cooperation between public and private sectors across both countries will be essential;
  • Support for Australia and Japan to remain key energy partners in a decarbonised world, but acknowledgement that this is not a given in a world where competition for investment in carbon-neutral energy systems is intense;
  • The critical need to develop a more coherent and improved bilateral narrative to underpin and enhance confidence between Australia and Japan (at industry and government levels).
  • information channels between businesses, governments and key stakeholders need to be strengthened and formalised to help ensure the Australia Japan Energy Transition Partnership can reach its full potential and grow and develop and emulate the successful energy partnership that both countries have enjoyed to date.

Warm thanks to all who participated, our excellent speakers, wonderful sponsors, and all members of the AJBCC’s Clean Energy Transition Committee who led the development and implementation of the event.