2012 the beginning of the clean energy era, says Professor Tim Flannery

Earlier today, Chief Climate Commissioner Professor Tim Flannery addressed leading businesses and organisations at the Committee for Economic Development of Australia. He used the speech to discuss the evidence that 2012 will be considered as the dawn of the clean energy era.

Professor Flannery said, “This year may well come to be seen as a tipping point, the beginning of the clean energy era. My optimism comes from four things: 1) enormous advances in many clean technologies; 2) widespread public support for clean energy; 3) rapidly increasing global investment in renewable energy; and 4) the dramatic drop in the price of wind and particularly solar technology.”

Global investment in renewable power and fuels has increased 6-fold since 2004, standing at $257 billion in 2011. Meanwhile, costs of renewable energy are dropping faster than expected. The cost of producing solar photovoltaic cells has dropped 75% in the past four years and 45% in the past 12 months.

“With so much global momentum, when historians look back in years to come they may well come to see this year as a tipping point towards a clean energy era,” Professor Flannery said.

Professor Flannery also considered whether Australia is well placed to capitalise on our most abundant natural resources, the sun and the wind.

“Australia is the sunniest country in the world and one of the windiest; we are lucky to have some of the best renewable resources in the world. Action on climate change will help unlock those resources. Yet we are a late starter. Our worst solar resources are equivalent to some of Germany’s best. But Germany is a world leader in installed solar (photovoltaic) while Australia is lagging behind.

“The world is changing quickly and Australia needs to be prepared if we are to prosper in future. We need national leadership to prepare us for the clean energy era.”

The independent Climate Commission was established to provide an open and trusted source of information on climate change science and solutions. The commission brings together internationally renowned climate scientists with policy and business leaders.