Global carbon emissions must halve in the next decade, and there’s a huge opportunity to scale up rooftop solar right now. Our campaign aims to secure a commitment, or “Pledge”, from the Australian government leading into COP31, to double rooftop solar and storage by 2035. Despite more than 4 million Australian homes having solar, an ...
Solar Citizens
Raise the Roof: Our campaign to double Rooftop Solar and Storage in Australia
GOAL
$109,500
Australia
Field of Interest
- Environment conservation and climate change
Target Population
- General population
Project Summary
Global carbon emissions must halve in the next decade, and there’s a huge opportunity to scale up rooftop solar right now. Our campaign aims to secure a commitment, or “Pledge”, from the Australian government leading into COP31, to double rooftop solar and storage by 2035.
Despite more than 4 million Australian homes having solar, an astounding 60% of Australians are still locked out, this includes renters and people who live in apartments. There is also a staggering 127GW of unrealised rooftop solar potential across the nation, that’s empty household roofs, big commercial and industrial buildings without solar and storage, and empty roofs on community buildings like schools and libraries.
Solar Citizens is an independent community organisation empowering everyone to access the cost-saving and environmental benefits of renewable energy and clean transport.
Key campaign activities:
- Policy Development and Political Advocacy: Solar Citizens will develop a policy roadmap towards doubling rooftop solar and storage by 2035, along with targeted political advocacy, including MP meetings, and digital campaigns
- Community engagement and public pressure: we’ll build community support by piloting a generative AI online engagement tool, engaging 10,000 people. We’ll use deep conversation tools (Kitchen Table Conversations) to target key demographics (renters, landlords, apartment dwellers) and amplify their stories
- Shift the narrative: We’ll generate a steady drumbeat of media stories and shape a narrative around action.
Project Outcomes
Our objective is to secure a commitment from the Federal Government to double rooftop solar and storage by 2035, leading into COP31.
Our campaign will result in:
* Strong domestic ambition on rooftop solar and storage
– Clear commitment from the Australian government on an ambitious Clean Energy Resources roadmap to double rooftop solar and storage by 2035.
– A pathway to meet all of our untapped rooftop solar and storage potential
* A shift in Australia’s public narrative on clean energy
– A positive, solutions-focused narrative driven by community voices supportive of rooftop solar and storage
– Demonstrated public pride from key demographics in Australia being a world leading solar-powered nation and a model for solar democracy and community-led energy ambition
* A public groundswell of community support in the lead-up to COP31 with national policy ambition on:
– Access to solar for renters & apartment dwellers
– Commercial & industrial rooftop solar
– Urban Renewable Energy Zones (UREZ)
– Solar + battery policy integration
*A regional alliance of Solar Champions working towards scaling global rooftop solar + storage
– An Asia/Pacific alliance has delivered a “Solar Nations Pledge” and “Solar Nations Scorecards” tactic at COP31, underpinned by national rooftop solar targets,
– This Alliance is working on a program led by local partners to increase uptake of consumer energy resources in our region
– This program is anchored by a clear and locally relevant regional roadmap towards a clean energy future
Budget Breakdown
TOTAL BUDGET: $200,000
FUNDING
| Funding source | Amount |
|---|---|
| Solar Citizens donors | $90,500 |
EXPENSES
| Expense item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Policy development and political advocacy | $25,000 |
| Community engagement (generative AI online engagement, face to face Kitchen Table Conversations) | $75,000 |
| Shaping the narrative: media, and digital storytelling | $60,000 |
| Our campaign engine: investing in our staff team to run cutting edge campaigns | $40,000 |
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