# Minister for Climate Change and Energy

The Minister for Climate Change and Energy is a portfolio in the Government of Australia. The current Minister is Chris Bowen. The minister administers his or her portfolios through the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (established on 1 July 2022.).
The portfolio is a federal ministerial portfolio responsible for the coordination and implementation of sustainable energy policies by the Australian Government. These policy areas include the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions, the promotion of energy efficiency, as well as adaptations to climate change within domestic and international contexts. The post was first held by Rex Connor in 1972 as Minister for Minerals and Energy.

## History

The precursor to the department was led by Secretary Blair Comley who reported to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Greg Combet. The Minister was assisted by the Secretary for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Mark Dreyfus. The Clean Energy Regulator was an associated statutory authority formed on 2 April 2012.
On 25 March 2013, the responsibility for Climate Change policy passed to the newly formed Department of Industry, Innovation, Climate Change, Science, Research and Tertiary Education, and the duties of the Ministry of Energy passed to the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism. Following the 2013 Australian federal election the responsibility for energy was shifted to the Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science under the Abbott government.
After the 2016 Australian federal election, the responsibilities were passed to the Minister of the Environment and Energy under the Turnbull government. Following the appointment of Scott Morrison as prime minister in August 2018, Josh Frydenberg was elevated to Treasurer of Australia, whereby Frydenberg's previous ministerial positions were separated, with Melissa Price as Minister of the Environment and Angus Taylor as Minister for Energy.
On 1 February 2020, An Administrative Arrangements Order (AAOs) was executed by the Australian Government. This order required small business and energy functions be passed to the renamed Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources.

## Objectives

The department deals with:
* Development and coordination of domestic and international climate change policy
* International climate change negotiations
* Design and implementation of emissions trading
* Mandatory renewable energy target policy, regulation, and co-ordination
* Greenhouse emissions and energy consumption reporting
* Climate change adaptation strategy and co-ordination
* Co-ordination of climate change science activities

## List of energy ministers

The following individuals have been appointed as energy minister, or any of its precedent titles:
| Order | Minister | Party | Prime Minister | Title | Term start | Term end | Term in office |
| 1 | Rex Connor | Labor | Whitlam | Minister for Minerals and Energy | 19 December 1972 | 14 October 1975 | 2 years, 299 days |
| 2 | Ken Wriedt | Labor | Whitlam | Minister for Minerals and Energy | 14 October 1975 | 11 November 1975 | 28 days |
| 3 | John Carrick | Liberal | Fraser | Minister for National Development and Energy | 8 December 1979 | 11 March 1983 | 3 years, 93 days |
| 4 | Peter Walsh | Labor | Hawke | Minister for Resources and Energy | 11 March 1983 | 13 December 1984 | 1 year, 277 days |
| 5 | Gareth Evans | Labor | Hawke | Minister for Resources and Energy | 13 December 1984 | 24 July 1987 | 2 years, 223 days |
| 6 | John Kerin | Labor | Hawke | Minister for Primary Industries and Energy | 24 July 1987 (1987-07-24) | 4 June 1991 (1991-06-04) | 3 years, 315 days |
| 7 | Simon Crean | Labor | Hawke | Minister for Primary Industries and Energy | 4 June 1991 (1991-06-04) | 20 December 1991 (1991-12-20) | 2 years, 202 days |
| 7 | Simon Crean | Labor | Keating | Minister for Primary Industries and Energy | 20 December 1991 (1991-12-20) | 23 December 1993 (1993-12-23) | 2 years, 202 days |
| 8 | Bob Collins | Labor | Keating | Minister for Primary Industries and Energy | 23 December 1993 (1993-12-23) | 11 March 1996 (1996-03-11) | 2 years, 79 days |
| 9 | John Anderson | National | Howard | Minister for Primary Industries and Energy | 11 March 1996 (1996-03-11) | 21 October 1998 (1998-10-21) | 2 years, 224 days |
| 9 | Warwick Parer | Liberal | Howard | Minister for Resources and Energy | 11 March 1996 (1996-03-11) | 21 October 1998 (1998-10-21) | 2 years, 224 days |
| 10 | Martin Ferguson | Labor | Rudd | Minister for Resources and Energy | 3 December 2007 | 24 June 2010 | 5 years, 89 days |
| 10 | Martin Ferguson | Labor | Gillard | Minister for Resources and Energy | 24 June 2010 | 22 March 2013 | 5 years, 89 days |
| 11 | Gary Gray | Labor | Gillard | Minister for Resources and Energy | 22 March 2013 | 27 June 2013 | 180 days |
| 11 | Gary Gray | Labor | Rudd | Minister for Resources and Energy | 27 June 2013 | 18 September 2013 | 180 days |
| 12 | Josh Frydenberg | Liberal | Turnbull | Minister for Resources, Energy and Northern Australia | 21 September 2015 (2015-09-21) | 18 February 2016 (2016-02-18) | 2 years, 341 days |
| 12 | Josh Frydenberg | Liberal | Turnbull | Minister for Resources and Energy | 18 February 2016 (2016-02-18) | 19 July 2016 (2016-07-19) | 2 years, 341 days |
| 12 | Josh Frydenberg | Liberal | Turnbull | Minister for the Environment and Energy | 19 July 2016 (2016-07-19) | 28 August 2018 (2018-08-28) | 2 years, 341 days |
| 13 | Angus Taylor | Liberal | Morrison | Minister for Energy | 28 August 2018 (2018-08-28) | 29 May 2019 (2019-05-29) | 3 years, 268 days |
| 13 | Angus Taylor | Liberal | Morrison | Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction | 29 May 2019 (2019-05-29) | 8 October 2021 (2021-10-08) | 3 years, 268 days |
| 13 | Angus Taylor | Liberal | Morrison | Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction | 8 October 2021 (2021-10-08) | 23 May 2022 (2022-05-23) | 3 years, 268 days |
| 14 | Chris Bowen | Labor | Albanese | Minister for Climate Change and Energy | 1 June 2022 (2022-06-01) | incumbent | 2 years, 174 days |

## List of ministers for climate change

The Minister for Climate Change is responsible for developing climate change (global warming) solutions, mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, and promoting energy efficiency. The following individuals have been appointed to the post, or any of its precursor titles:
| Order | Minister | Party | Prime Minister | Title | Term start | Term end | Term in office |
| 1 | Penny Wong | Labor | Rudd | Minister for Climate Change and Water | 3 December 2007 (2007-12-03) | 8 March 2010 (2010-03-08) | 2 years, 285 days |
| 1 | Penny Wong | Labor | Rudd | Minister for Climate Change, Energy Efficiency and Water | 8 March 2010 (2010-03-08) | 24 June 2010 (2010-06-24) | 2 years, 285 days |
| 1 | Penny Wong | Labor | Gillard | Minister for Climate Change, Energy Efficiency and Water | 24 June 2010 (2010-06-24) | 14 September 2010 (2010-09-14) | 2 years, 285 days |
| 2 | Greg Combet | Labor | Gillard | Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency | 14 September 2010 (2010-09-14) | 1 July 2013 (2013-07-01) | 2 years, 289 days |
| 3 | Mark Butler | Labor | Rudd | Minister for Climate Change | 1 July 2013 (2013-07-01) | 18 September 2013 (2013-09-18) | 79 days |
| 4 | Chris Bowen | Labor | Albanese | Minister for Climate Change and Energy | 1 June 2022 (2022-06-01) | Incumbent | 2 years, 174 days |

## List of Assistant Ministers for Climate Change and Energy

The following individuals have been appointed as Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy, or any of its precedent titles:
| Order | Minister | Party | Party | Prime Minister | Title | Term start | Term end | Term in office |
| 1 | Jenny McAllister | | Labor | Albanese | Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy | 1 June 2022 (2022-06-01) | 29 July 2024 (2024-07-29) | 2 years, 58 days |
| 2 | Josh Wilson | | Labor | Albanese | Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy | 29 July 2024 (2024-07-29) | Incumbent | 116 days |