Dr. Fatih Birol, the executive director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), recently addressed Australia's potential in transitioning to a hydrogen-based economy during the Clean Energy Council's Clean Energy Summit. He highlighted the global economic crisis induced by the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to a 20% decline in global energy investment amounting to around US$400 billion. Despite the decline in energy investment, he expressed concerns about the reduction in global greenhouse gas emissions not being a cause for celebration, attributing it to economic trauma and human casualties. Dr. Birol stressed the importance of avoiding emissions rebound as economies recover, suggesting the use of gas with hydrogen and CCS as a viable decarbonization solution for challenging sectors. Australia's role in the energy transition was commended, with Dr. Birol recognizing the country's progress in improving energy efficiency and accelerating renewable energy adoption. He noted that Australia possesses the necessary elements to implement new technologies like carbon capture and storage and hydrogen. Emphasizing the need for policy support, Dr. Birol highlighted the government's commitment of A$370 million to hydrogen development and the importance of mass production to reduce the cost of electrolysers for a wider hydrogen rollout. Experts at the summit echoed the call for government intervention to establish a conducive policy environment for energy transition initiatives, emphasizing that the private sector alone cannot effectively reduce global emissions. Energy efficiency was highlighted as a crucial aspect of the transition conversation, gaining traction as a potential job creator post-pandemic. With the world still far from achieving a 1.5°C temperature rise scenario, interventions beyond economics were deemed essential to drive substantial change. The push for decarbonizing the entire economy was underscored, pointing towards a comprehensive transition beyond just renewable electricity.