Climate jobs are Australia's next big employer, more than making up for the loss of fossil fuel industries, according to tech billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes.
"To put it simply, the green economy is Australia’s golden ticket," he told a jobs fair in Melbourne on Thursday.
"But first and foremost, we need to focus on the jobs we have to start filling right now – climate jobs."
Speaking as chair of climate organisation Boundless, the tech boss said Australia needs people to lead the charge by choosing a climate job as their next career shift.
"For each one of us that does this, our careers will be enhanced," he said.
"For the rest, the shift will happen whether we like it or not. But it’s up to us to decide if we want to reap the benefits."
He pointed out there are about 10 tech workers for each person employed in a carbon-intensive industry in Australia.
"The goal for the transition isn’t about spending a heap of time stopping things and shutting stuff down," he said.
"It’s about spending time on starting things and creating new opportunities."
That means spending less time talking about coal power plants and electric cars and more time building solar farms and batteries and more standards that get more EVs on the roads, he said.
The International Energy Agency says in a world aligned with limiting global warming to 1.5C, close to 13 million jobs in fossil fuel-related industries will be lost.
But in this same scenario, 30 million new clean energy jobs will be added by 2030.
"More than two clean energy jobs will be created for every fossil fuel-related job lost - that’s a two for one deal," Mr Cannon-Brookes said.
"If we get the right people into these roles, we can speed up our transition - and start creating much more - at an exponential rate."
Fellow technology entrepreneur turned climate activist Eytan Lenko, CEO of Boundless, also wants to make Australia a renewable energy superpower.
Online tools launched at the Careers for Net Zero Fair will help students, new workers, mid-career professionals and bosses to figure out what climate job might suit them and apply.
"We're also launching the world's largest climate careers platform Terra.do that has already helped half a million people globally get into climate jobs," Mr Lenko said.
There are 4500 jobs on the Australian part of the jobs board that people can apply for immediately.
The recent Jobs and Skills report estimates could be two million clean economy jobs in Australia by 2050.
"Australia has never had so many people in employment and it is tough for companies to find good people," Mr Lenko said.
"So when we choose what to do with our careers, we're putting in a vote for which way the economy goes."
Mr Cannon-Brookes also backed the electrification push announced by Victoria's premier on Thursday.
Jacinta Allan launched a 12-year plan, including an initial investment of $1 billion towards building 4.5 gigawatts of renewable energy and storage - or enough to power 1.5 million homes.
Ms Allan said households could save around $1400 a year by going electric, or more more than $2700 with solar installed, with the State Electricity Commission (SEC) to be a "one-stop shop" to help them do it.
Schools, hospitals and factories can buy energy directly from the SEC, which will sell retail and wholesale electricity.
The SEC will also be responsible for the skills and training needed to secure a pipeline of energy workers for Victoria's next "big build" to get the state to 95 per cent renewable energy by 2035, she said.
