EU Commissioner for Energy, Kadri Simson, Visits Australia

08.04.2024 Press and information team of the Delegation to the Australia

EU Commissioner for Energy, Kadri Simson, visited Australia for an exchange on clean energy transition. Together with Energy Minister Chris Bowen and Minister Madeleine King, they released a Joint Press Statement on EU-Australia Energy Relations.

European Commissioner Kadri Simson is responsible for developing the European energy market, implementing the European Green Deal, contributing to the design of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and developing the Just Transition Fund to support those most affected by the energy transition.

During her visit to Australia, Commissioner Simson engaged with Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen and Minister for Resources and Minister for Northern Australia Madeleine King for bilateral talks and joint visit to energy research facilities at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Sydney.

Please see the Joint Press Statement on EU-Australia Energy Relations.

Fruitful Exchange on Sustainability Initiatives in Australia

Commissioner Simson's tour brought about numerous productive discussions throughout New South Wales and Canberra.

At UNSW, Commissioner Simson participated in a panel discussion with Professor Renate Egan, Executive Director of the Australian Centre for Advanced Photovoltaics, on the complementary roles of Europe and Australia in the energy transition as they relate to technology, policy and societal change.

In Sydney, Commissioner Simson and Minister Bowen attended the EU-Australia Ministerial Corporate Lunch and Industry Forum on leveraging the critical EU-Australia partnership to accelerate the transformation to Net-Zero, hosted by the European Australian Business Council.

There is no more important partner for Australia in its transition than Europe, said Minister Chris Bowen during panel discussion.

Commissioner Simson also visited Canberra to meet with the EU Member States Ambassadors to Australia and address the National Press Club of Australia on how the EU overcame the energy crisis and the next steps in its energy and industrial transition. Commissioner also connected with the representatives of the Australian Energy Producers.

During her visit, Commissioner Simson alongside her Australian counterparts toured various locations in New South Wales, including Illawara, Wollongong, Port Kembla, and Newcastle, to discuss further Australian cleantech innovation and energy security challenges in Australia.

Australia Remains the EU’s Likeminded Partner in Tackling Climate Change

This visit reaffirmed the strong alignment between the European Union and Australia as cooperative allies in tackling climate change challenges. Both European Union and Australia stand united in their commitment to sustainable development, prioritising the well-being of both societies and the planet. This cooperation highlights our shared values and mutual dedication to create more prosperous and equitable future for all. Clean energy is a big part of making this happen.

In December 2023, at the COP28 in Dubai, Australia joined the EU’s lead Global Pledge on Renewables and Energy Efficiency, reaffirming the shared commitment of Australia and the EU towards climate action.

The EU and Australia share an unwavering commitment to meeting the 1.5 degree commitments under the Paris agreement and Australia was a key partner for us on the Global Renewables and Energy Efficiency Pledge at COP28. Both of us are committed to rapidly decarbonising our electricity systems and to building or upgrading the grids needed for those systems. I particularly welcome the important role that EU companies are playing in deploying Australian renewable energy, in the same way that Australian companies are playing a key role in future European hydrogen production, said Commissioner Simson.