Australia’s transition to a clean industry could unlock a near AUD300 billion economic opportunity if decisive action is taken to deliver a pipeline of 70 projects, according to a new briefing from Mission Possible Partnership (MPP) and the Industrial Transition Accelerator (ITA).

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Launched at Climate Action Week Sydney, Clean Industry Spotlight: Turning Australia's natural advantage into industrial leadership, recommends key policy and investment levers needed to unlock demand and create the market conditions to future-proof the country’s economy through a transition to clean industry. The briefing was developed following a workshop which convened more than 50 senior leaders across the clean industry landscape in Australia, including project developers, federal and state government representatives and investors.

Commodities at the foundation of Australia’s economy, such as iron ore, coal and gas, will increasingly be complemented by clean iron, green ammonia and sustainable fuels. As well as unlocking a substantial economic opportunity, this shift will create jobs in legacy industrial regions like Gladstone in Queensland.

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Acting Branch Head at Australia’s Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Michael Bartlett, said: “If we act now to kick-start the clean industrial revolution in Australia, we can realise an immense economic opportunity valued at more than a quarter of a trillion dollars. This will deliver huge benefits to citizens in all corners of the country, improving lives and growing businesses. 

“Australia has strong advantages, with world-class mineral deposits, renewable potential and a strong reputation as a trusted trading partner. International partners already look to us to support the decarbonisation of steel, fuels and heavy industry. There’s a clear economic opportunity if we can move early and build scale.” 

Australia is home to one of the world’s largest clean industrial pipelines, behind only China and the United States. MPP’s Global Project Tracker identifies 53 commercial-scale zero or near-zero emissions projects. Through Build Clean Now, the ITA is also tracking a further 17 lower-emissions projects¹ driving broader progress toward industrial decarbonisation. These bring Australia’s total clean industrial pipeline to 70 projects in development, with 15-20 in more advanced stages of development approaching and only one to date that has reached Final Investment Decision (FID).

Momentum is being driven through the Future Made in Australia agenda, which will invest AUD22.7 billion over the next decade in strengthening competitiveness via clean industries. The private sector is also rallying, with Qantas’ Climate Fund – the world’s largest aviation fund for climate change – investing over AUD290 million² in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), and the airline targeting 10 per cent SAF in its fuel mix by 2030. Additionally, Fortescue, Progressive Green Solutions and Green Steel WA are pushing forward with iron projects.

The global pipeline of clean industrial projects represents an investment opportunity of AUD2.59 trillion.³ Much of this is held by ‘new industrial sunbelt’ countries, like Australia, which are set to reach or overtake traditional market leaders, forming new industrial supply chains across the world.

Director of APAC at Mission Possible Partnership, Rachel Howard, added: “Australia is home to one of the largest clean industrial pipelines in the world. This potential can translate into huge economic and social benefits across the country, while supporting the path to net zero.

“To achieve that, we need true collaboration between government, industry and finance to create a blueprint that can be replicated around the world.”

While Australia has 70 clean industrial projects in development, many face barriers: insufficient buyers willing to pay a green premium, policy uncertainty, fragmented demand and high upfront capital costs.

The report argues these barriers can be overcome through decisive government action, including:

• Using public procurement and mandates to create reliable early demand
• Introducing price guarantees and carbon contracts to reduce investment risk
• Deploying loan guarantees, export finance and transferable tax credits to crowd in private capital
• Investing in shared infrastructure and contingency facilities to lower delivery risk

Taken together, these measures could unlock billions in private investment and accelerate projects from plans to plants.

The briefing was created in collaboration with MPP and the ITA’s delivery partner Cyan Ventures and builds on a workshop hosted in Sydney in October 2025, which convened more than 50 senior leaders from Australia’s clean industry ecosystem, including representatives from the Australian Government, Qantas, Fortescue and the Investor Group on Climate Change. This Build Clean Now workshop is the first in a global series taking place this year in countries including Türkiye, South Africa and Mexico.

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Note: This article has been issued by APAC and has been published by AL Circle with its original information without any modifications or edits to the core subject/data.