Joint Statement Between the U.S. and Australia on the 2024 Ministerial Dialogue on Clean Energy

United States Secretary for Energy, Jennifer Granholm, and Australian Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen, held the second United States-Australia Ministerial Dialogue on Clean Energy on the margins of the G20 Energy Transitions Ministerial in Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil on October 4, 2024.

The Ministerial Dialogue on Clean Energy marked the culmination of a year of progress since its inaugural meeting to realize the shared commitment to elevate climate and clean energy cooperation to the third pillar of our alliance, as set forth by leaders in May 2023 through the Climate, Critical Minerals and Clean Energy Transformation Compact (Compact) and reinforced by Prime Minister Albanese’s meetings with President Biden in Washington in October 2023 and Delaware in September 2024. 

Ministers discussed the need to work together to support and secure clean solar supply chains, which may leverage both countries’ significant investments and complementary resources in their respective solar industries in support of our leaders’ intent to collaborate on clean energy supply chains. As a first step to investigating the feasibility of an end-to-end solar supply chain, Ministers noted their intent to conduct and report on techno-economic market studies on the solar industry, including polysilicon processing and trade. This work will leverage solar cooperation between ARENA and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), and the Australia-U.S. Clean Energy Industry Council. 

Ministers acknowledged the significant economic opportunities of the global clean energy transformation to net zero by mid-century. They emphasized that both countries’ significant investments in their renewable energy industries, through the US Inflation Reduction Act and Australia’s Future Made in Australia plan respectively, offered unparalleled opportunities for collaboration to shape a transformed global energy future. Ministers voiced their expectation that, through the Compact, joint U.S.-Australia efforts would support partners in the Indo-Pacific as they meet their decarbonization and supply chain diversification goals. 

Ministers reaffirmed that the climate crisis represents the existential challenge of our time and committed to even closer cooperation to achieve a fully or predominantly carbon pollution-free power sector by 2035, net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, reaffirming the Paris Agreement temperature goal and reiterating our resolve to pursue deep, rapid and sustained reductions in greenhouse gas emissions to keep 1.5 C within reach.  In support of last year’s G20 leader’s commitment to tripling renewable energy and doubling energy efficiency by 2030, both countries recognized the need for rapid global deployment of clean energy technologies this decade, including support for global goals for energy storage in the power sector of 1500 GW by 2030 and pursuing a 1.5 C-aligned goal for grids modernization and buildout to ensure rapid and reliable electricity delivery to those most in need.  Both countries also reaffirmed the work of the Carbon Management Challenge to support a global goal of advancing carbon management projects that would collectively reach gigatonne scale by 2030. The United States welcomed Australia’s bid to host COP31 in 2026 in partnership with Pacific countries, noting its opportunities to accelerate global climate action and clean energy transition.

Ministers announced Australia as an international collaborator of the U.S DOE’s Long Duration Storage Shot, a critical part of the ambitious Energy Earthshots Initiative.  Australia and the United States intend to work together towards global ambition in line with the Long Duration Storage Shot, taking into consideration national circumstances, through the Compact to pursue innovative breakthroughs that drive down technology costs for long duration energy storage, accelerate decarbonization of the electric grid, and ensure that a clean energy future is accessible and affordable for all communities.  Both countries plan to meet annually and share best practice, strategies and progress. Ministers also discussed interest in future work together on upgrading homes and reducing energy bills and noted Australia’s interest in the Affordable Home Energy Shot under the Energy Earthshots Initiative for potential future collaboration.