A new report from Oxfam has found that renewable energy is the cheapest way to increase energy access in the world’s poorest communities.

The Powering Up Against Poverty report exposes the truth behind a cynical misinformation campaign by the fossil fuel industry, who have insisted coal is the cheapest way to provide energy to the more than one billion people around the world who are living without electricity.

The report found that renewables were a cheaper, quicker and healthier way to deliver energy access to poor communities.

Developing nations are installing renewable energy at almost twice the rate of developed nations and addressing climate change and tackling poverty can go hand-in-hand, the report revealed.

“By continuing to hedge its future on coal, remaining blind to the scope of international climate action, ignoring increasing calls for international cooperation on renewable energy, and failing to develop its non?fossil assets and enormous renewable energy potential, Australia is both harming its own future prosperity and working against the interests of poor people in developing countries,” the report noted.

“Rather than dwell on past advantages of coal, Australia must recognise both its own enviable renewable energy assets, as well as the natural advantages of renewable energy in reducing poverty and inequality around the world.”