Germany and Australia want to cooperate more intensively in the field of climate and energy. Green hydrogen is to be of particular importance in this context; the energy carrier is produced in a climate-friendly way with the help of eco-electricity. Vice Chancellor and Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection Robert Habeck and Australian Energy and Climate Protection Minister Chris Bowen agreed on a corresponding collaboration at a meeting.
Energy cooperation has existed between the two countries since 2017, in 2021 it was converted into a partnership, and now the area of climate protection has been added. The concrete form of the partnership will take place in the coming months, according to Habeck’s ministry.
The Vice Chancellor had already exchanged views with Australia’s Trade Minister Don Farrell in December on the joint development of a hydrogen economy; other topics included raw materials and a possible trade agreement between the EU and Australia. The resource-rich country plays an important role in building new supply chains for critical minerals such as rare earths and lithium. For decades, the market has been dominated by China. The mineral resources also benefit Australia’s plans to become a renewable energy superpower; rare earths, for example, are needed for electric cars and wind turbines.
Photo: iStock/bennymarty
