{"id":431571,"date":"2026-03-16T11:33:32","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T10:33:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=431571"},"modified":"2026-03-16T11:33:34","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T10:33:34","slug":"aussie-security-experts-demand-an-accelerated-renewable-transition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=431571","title":{"rendered":"Aussie Security Experts Demand an Accelerated Renewable Transition"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

From Watts Up With That?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Essay by<\/strong> Eric Worrall<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you want to understand how Australia got into its current mess, read the open letter quoted in this article.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Open Letter to Australia<\/p>\n\n\n\n

OIL WARS THREATEN OUR SECURITY<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Climate change deepen the danger<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Australia\u2019s dependence on fossil fuels is a critical economic and security vulnerability. Major confl icts in Ukraine and in the Middle East \u2014 including the Suez crisis, two Arab-Israeli wars, and the Iran-Iraq war \u2014 have all caused energy supply and economic shocks.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Today, Australia is particularly exposed. Our heavy reliance on imported oil, and gas prices now tied to global markets, mean higher costs for Australian households and businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Any sustained closure of the Strait of Hormuz shipping route interrupts the global petrol and diesel supply, and the petrochemical feedstocks essential for fertiliser production, apparel manufacturing, copper and nickel mining, microchip production and much else. The consequences are rising food prices, higher transport costs and potentially severe economic disruption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the same time, climate change, driven by fossil fuel use and subsidies, is increasing instability and conflict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Food shortages, water stress and extreme heat have already contributed to social breakdown across the Middle East and North Africa, including Syria and the Arab Spring. As global warming intensifies, competition for water, food and resources including oil will further increase the risks of insecurity and war. And the conflict themselves add to climate change with increased military and reconstruction emissions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These risks are connected. Continuing fossil fuel dependence, let alone the government\u2019s current support for expansion, intensifi es climate change, creating a growing threat to Australia\u2019s economic and national security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We call on the Australian Government to accelerate the transition to clean, domestic energy. Rapidly expanding renewable energy \u2014 including wind, solar, batteries, hydro and renewable fuels produced in Australia \u2014 and electrifying our transport system with home-grown energy will strengthen Australia\u2019s security, reduce exposure to global energy shocks and help limit the escalating risks driven by climate change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Protecting Australians by accelerating the renewable energy rollout is now a security priority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sincerely,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ADMIRAL CHRIS BARRIE AC
Former Chief, Australian Defence Force (Retd)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

AIR VICE-MARSHAL JOHN BLACKBURN AO
Deputy Chief, Royal Australian Air Force (Retd)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

COLONEL NEIL GREET
Colonel, Australian Army (Retd)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CHERYL DURRANT
Former Director of Preparedness & Mobilisation,
Australian Department of Defence<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MAJOR MICHAEL THOMAS
Australian Army (Retd)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

IAN DUNLOP
Former Chair of the Australian Coal Association<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JANE HOLLAWAY
Former Systems Analyst, Australian Department of Defence<\/p>\n\n\n\n

LIEUTENANT COLONEL DECHLAN ELLIS
Australian Army (Retd)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Authorised by the Australian Security Leaders Climate Group I aslcg.org<\/p>\n\n\n\n

BRIGADIER MICHAEL BOND CSC & BAR
Australian Army (Retd)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PROF. MATT MCDONALD
School of Political Science & International Studies,
University of Queensland<\/p>\n\n\n\n

COMMODORE DREW MCKINNIE
Royal Australian Navy (Retd)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JASON LUGH BROWN FSYL
Former Senior Executive Service Defence & Attorney General\u2019s Department<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CAPTAIN PADDY HODGMAN
Royal Australian Navy (Retd)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

GROUP CAPTAIN ANNE BORZYCKI
Royal Australian Air Force (Retd)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DR PETER LAYTON
Associate Fellow, Royal United Services Institute<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MICHAEL COPAGE
Director CoTerran, Former Head of ASPI\u2019s
Climate and Security Policy Centre<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DR ALBERT PALAZZO
Adjunct Professor UNSW Canberra & former
Director of War Studies in the Department of Defence<\/p>\n\n\n\n

COMMODORE VINCE DI PIETRO AM, CSC
Royal Australian Navy (Retd)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ANASTASIA KAPETAS
National Security Asset StrategistSource: https:\/\/www.aslcg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/ASLCG_OpenLetter.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Some of what is said in this letter I agree with. Australia is deeply vulnerable to geopolitical disruption to trade, because we are utterly dependent on imported energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Iran Oil Crisis + Australia’s Failed Green Energy Policies are Collapsing our Farming and Fishing Industries<\/a><\/blockquote>