Every energy minister in Australia joined First Nations clean energy leaders in Adelaide to launch the First Nations Clean Energy Strategy on Friday.

At the tri-annual Energy and Climate Change Ministerial Council meeting Federal Minister for Climate and Energy Chris Bowen all state and territory energy ministers gathered with key Strategy design advisors from the First Nations Clean Energy Network and the First Nations Clean Energy and Emissions Reduction Advisory Committee to launch the Strategy, which is "honouring a strategic commitment by governments to put First Nations front and centre of the country's clean energy transition".

The First Nations Clean Energy Network, a member-based organisation, urged all parties in 2022 to establish and enact a Clean Energy Strategy with a focus on Indigenous empowerment.

The Strategy has been contributed to by hundreds of First Nations, industry and government leaders through rigorous consultation and roundtables, and "sets a vision and pathway for First Nations, industry and government to work in a coherent and coordinated approach to invite and guide investment and partnerships with First Nations in Australia's clean energy transition", organisers said.

First Nations Clean Energy Network co-chairperson, Karrina Nolan, said on Friday that the Network supports the Strategy "and its action framework to shape policies, programs and partnerships and ensure investment into First Nations clean energy solutions".

"First Nations people, groups and communities have been listened to, and the barriers and opportunities to realise our clean energy aspirations have been heard," she said.

"First Nations, industry and government have honoured a commitment to First Nations communities - putting First Nations front and centre of the energy transition - and can address access to affordable power, and ensure benefit-sharing, partnerships, and First Nations-led projects.

"The First Nations Clean Energy Strategy is a signal to the First Nations community that government is backing us, and a signal to industry saying when you prioritise First Nations partnerships, the government will also back you."

Ms Nolan noted that while some parts of the industry have already realised First Nations equity partnering on clean energy projects reduces risk, cost and delay, "centering First Nations through the First Nations Clean Energy Strategy shows the government is serious about raising the bar".

"Resourcing the First Nations Clean Energy Strategy is an investment in consent on our terms”.

"This welcome initial investment is a positive signal to First Nations, and the market, that First Nations clean energy aspirations must be enabled and benefits ensured to deliver mutually beneficial outcomes in Australia's clean energy transition.

"Now that the First Nations Clean Energy Strategy has been released, domestic and global investment can be turbocharged into First Nations-led clean energy projects and partnerships. Equity and strong partnerships are the purest form of consent, reducing risk, cost and delay. The Strategy gives the green light to industry to step up and commit to genuine partnerships with First Nations in clean energy solutions across Australia."

Ms Nolan said the Network was grateful to the First Nations Clean Energy and Emissions Reduction Advisory Committee members for their "steadfast commitment" to work with government, industry and First Nations in developing the First Nations Clean Energy Strategy.

Read the First Nations Clean Energy Strategy here

This article was first published in National Indigenous Times