23rd June 2025
Australia's leading environment groups have come together to release a new report tracking states and territories' progress towards electricity decarbonisation, finding that protecting nature and improved regional planning are the missing link to accelerating Australia's renewable energy rollout.
The report, States of Transition, prepared by Common Capital, finds that planned renewable energy projects currently in the pipeline could meet 2030 renewable energy targets by up to 5 times in some jurisdictions, but stronger nature and community protections are vital for public confidence and to ensure the best projects get built.
The good news out of the report is that Australia currently has a healthy supply of renewable energy projects in train to meet our nation's energy goals. However, not all proposals are viable and the report finds that progress is being held back by inadequate planning, lack of community clarity around the rollout of renewables and public concern on nature impacts.
The States of Transition report identifies the need for strong regional strategies to safeguard high-level conservation areas and restore degraded habitat.
This will ensure that the renewable energy transition can help tackle climate change and Australia's ongoing extinction crisis. While shifting the nation off fossil fuels and powering homes and businesses with renewable energy is a long term win for both the climate and nature, restoring and not further degrading landscapes and ecosystems is equally critical.
First Nations engagement and consultation will be essential to achieving positive environmental and cultural outcomes as we transition to renewable energy in a manner consistent with the vital principles of free and prior consent and self-determination.
Nature Conservation Council of NSW, Senior Climate and Energy Campaigner, Jacqui Mills:
"Half of threatened species in NSW are not expected to survive the next 100 years and climate change is one of the biggest threats. The renewable energy transition is a once in a generation opportunity to tackle climate change and bring transformative benefits to our regions whilst protecting and restoring nature.
With the right planning, renewable energy projects can help us give nature a fighting chance. Biodiversity hotspots must be off limits for any form of development and we need to throw everything into restoring and connecting habitat as we roll out renewable energy".
Environment Tasmania, Energy and Climate Campaigner, Maddie McShane:
"With an increasingly unstable climate, it's time to prioritise the renewable transition in Tasmania. Tasmanians have a proud legacy as a renewable energy superpower, but it's important to recognise the need to diversify and expand our renewable energy generation to support our electrifying society.
Tasmania ranks far behind the rest of Australia on rooftop solar and there lies a massive missed opportunity to cut bills and emissions. It's time to catch up and unlock our full potential. Designing and citing renewable energy zones that benefit nature and communities is critical to powering this transition."
Environment Centre Northern Territory, Senior Climate Campaigner, Bree Ahrens:
"The Territory has the natural assets to become Australia's renewable energy leader, but we need to move faster. With strong planning and environmental regulation we can help secure a safe climate future while safeguarding the Territory's nature.
More battery storage, greater investment in the grid and reinstating our renewable energy target will help deliver more affordable and reliable power for Territorians. With parts of the Territory set to become unlivable by 2070 due to climate change, we need to act now."
Environment Victoria, Senior Climate and Energy Advisor, Dr Kat Lucas-Healey:
"A decade ago, Victoria had one of the dirtiest electricity grids in the world. Today, 40% of Victoria's electricity comes from clean renewable energy. There is still a long way to go to reduce climate pollution down to zero.
"Renewable energy projects that genuinely protect nature and respond to local concerns have the best prospects. Fast-tracking must not come at the expense of best practice public consultation and environmental assessment. There is also huge potential to expand smaller-scale renewable generation and storage projects, making use of rooftops in the cities and improving community energy resilience in the regions."
Queensland Conservation Council, Senior Campaign Manager, Stephanie Gray:
"Queensland is blessed with natural advantages and we have a strong pipeline of renewable energy projects, but disappointingly, the Queensland Government is not capitalising on this exciting economic opportunity.
"Instead they're creating policy uncertainty and dragging their feet on the Renewable Energy Zone planning we need to responsibly manage the energy transformation."
Conservation Council of Western Australia, Executive Director, Matt Roberts:
"We are already seeing the impacts of climate change in our day-to-day lives. To protect West Australians and our natural environment from increasing climate impacts like heat waves, fires, and floods, we urgently need to, as a state, raise our ambition and funding to deliver the renewable energy we need.
"WA emissions have risen by 17% since 2005, far exceeding any other jurisdiction, with no clear pathway to the reductions we have committed to. We can cut climate pollution, while continuing to meet our energy requirements by having a robust renewable energy target, creating certainty and that clear pathway forward.
"Strong state and federal environment laws are the way to enable community confidence and the environmental protections we need to deliver an energy transition that is fast and fair."
