CEC Chief Executive Matthew Warren said that the report demonstrates that renewable energy jobs are the key to Australia’s defence against ongoing global recession and the front line response to climate change.
The estimate does not account for jobs created under the Federal Government’s $1.6 billion Solar Flagships program or the jobs created under the proposed Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS).
“We have a burgeoning renewable energy industry in Australia that is ready to become an economic powerhouse when the parliament passes critical Renewable Energy Target (RET) legislation,” he said.
The findings come as two Senate committees tabled separate reports relating to the CPRS on Monday; one by the Economics Legislation Committee, and the other by the Climate Policy Select Committee.
The Federal Government is hoping to have the CPRS legislation approved by parliament by the end of June Parliamentary sitting.
“We now need politicians from all sides in Canberra to set aside cheap political point scoring and pass the RET bill now,” said Mr Warren.
Mr Warren said that immediate deployment of renewable energy projects has the clear support of most stakeholders and the community.
The CEC report concludes that at least 50 per cent of Australia’s energy will be derived from renewable sources by 2050 and this will require the creation of a new renewable energy workforce.
