Australia

Australia generated 36% of its electricity from clean sources, below the global average of 39%.

Australia relied on fossil fuels for 64% of its electricity in 2023, ranking as the G20’s top coal emitter on a per capita basis.

Despite Australia’s power sector emissions peaking in 2009, with its share of coal dropping from 73% to 46% and wind and solar growing from 3% to 29%, coal continues to dominate the electricity mix. Australian coal mines also emit massive amounts of the potent greenhouse gas methane.

Solar leads Australia’s clean electricity at 17% of the mix, placing the country in 5th position globally for the largest share of solar. However, although its 29% share of wind and solar is well above the global average (13%), it lags behind major European economies such as Germany (39%) and the UK (33%).

Australia aims for 82% renewable electricity by 2030, while the IEA’s Net Zero Emissions scenario sets out a global target of 60% renewable electricity by 2030.