​New economic modelling from AlphaBeta, commissioned by the Climate Council, has identified opportunities to create 76,000 jobs across Australia, rapidly getting people back into the workforce while also tackling climate change.

“The Clean Jobs Plan identifies a dozen policy options that can create jobs fast, where they are needed and for people who need them most,” says AlphaBeta Director Andrew Charlton. “The job creation could start immediately and continue over three years. Federal, state and territory governments all have the opportunity to put these measures in train.”

At a time when Australia has seen steep job losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the report suggests that thousands of jobs could be created in large-scale renewable energy and ecosystem restoration projects and the collection and processing of organic waste.

The report’s key findings: 

• Across Australia, up to 15,000 jobs could be created in large-scale renewable energy, including solar and wind farms, upgrading transmission infrastructure and adding utility-scale batteries.
• Approximately 12,000 jobs could be created in ecosystem restoration.
• Thousands more jobs could be created in the collection and processing of organic waste; making homes and public buildings more energy efficient; expanding urban and peri-urban green spaces; community scale energy storage and generation; green hydrogen and expanding electric vehicle infrastructure.
• More than 40 per cent of the job opportunities identified are located in regional Australia.
• 70 per cent of job opportunities are in construction and administrative, support and logistics services – sectors where 80,000 workers have already lost their jobs.

“The opportunities identified in our modelling work are shovel-ready. One third of the jobs would require less than 12 months of retraining, meaning that workers who lost their jobs because of the COVID-19 crisis could be rapidly employed,” says Charlton.

Non-executive director and Climate Council board member Sam Mostyn says that economic recovery is a national priority, and all governments have a crucial role to play in making targeted investments.

“Most of the 12 stimulus options can leverage significant private investment for the Australian economy. Investment in pilot-scale green hydrogen facilities would unlock $4 for every dollar of public money; utility-scale renewable energy unlocks $3 for every dollar invested,” says Mostyn.

Climate Council CEO Amanda McKenzie says the plan offers a win-win solution to the problems of climate change and unemployment. “The Clean Jobs Plan is unique because of the speed at which it can get people back to work. It puts us on a practical, jobs-rich path and focuses on areas most in need. It sets us up for the future, by creating jobs and tackling climate change.”