Outgoing Greens senator Peter Whish-Wilson has issued a clarion call to the renewable energy sector, urging industry leaders to aggressively increase their political lobbying efforts to counter the influence of fossil fuel-funded disinformation. Speaking at the Australian Clean Energy Summit, Whish-Wilson argued that environmental crises are fundamentally political problems that require a robust, organized response from those seeking to transform the energy landscape. He challenged the industry to reflect on its current lack of influence compared to the deeply entrenched legacy energy sector, noting that if the renewables industry is to succeed, it must stop treating politics as a secondary concern and start actively holding policymakers to account.
The senator’s remarks follow the conclusion of a federal inquiry he spearheaded, which sought to expose the mechanisms behind the spread of climate and energy-related falsehoods. The inquiry, which resulted in 21 government-adopted recommendations, revealed a well-oiled “denial machine” capable of rapidly deploying coordinated attacks against clean energy initiatives. Whish-Wilson described his own office’s experience as a “living laboratory” for this phenomenon, citing thousands of emails orchestrated by conservative lobby groups and hostile press coverage that surfaced even before the formal inquiry submissions had commenced.
Central to the investigation’s findings was the role of the US-based Atlas Network, which was identified as a key architect in funding local think tanks and anti-climate initiatives that fuel opposition to renewable projects. Whish-Wilson expressed concern that while the forces of disinformation are highly coordinated and well-funded, those working to combat them are often fragmented, unaware of one another’s efforts, and lacking a unified strategy. He emphasized that to combat this “asymmetrical information response,” the industry and its advocates must coalesce around a common goal and present a united, powerful front against those who deliberately degrade the national information environment.
The impact of this disinformation is not merely abstract; it has caused tangible disruption to renewable energy projects and harmed communities across the country. Farmers hosting wind or solar projects have faced ostracization, and public discourse has been poisoned by fabricated stories regarding electric vehicles and turbine health risks. Whish-Wilson stressed that the responsibility for fixing this environment lies in part with government reform, but it is equally incumbent upon the clean energy industry to recognize their role as key stakeholders who are currently bearing the brunt of these campaigns.
Practical advice offered at the summit highlighted the importance of commercial influence in moderating media hostility. Clean Energy Council spokesperson Chris O-Keefe suggested that developers should strategically engage with local media outlets through professional advertising and partnerships. O-Keefe argued that “buying into” local radio and print outlets is a pragmatic way to take the “sting” out of biased coverage, noting that many regional news organizations, while often critical of green projects, are also commercially vulnerable and responsive to steady advertising relationships.
Ultimately, the message from both the senator and industry experts is that the clean energy transition will not be won on technical merit alone. Both Whish-Wilson and the summit speakers underscored the imperative for the industry to move beyond its traditional focus on infrastructure delivery and embrace its power as a political and media force. By funding independent reporting, engaging in strategic lobbying, and fostering stronger public relations, the renewable energy sector has the capacity—and the necessity—to defend its territory against the disinformation campaigns that threaten its long-term viability.
