In a new report, the Climate Council has examined each state and territory's progress in transitioning to renewables, revealing the NT is coming last in the race.

"The NT has once again been awarded the Wooden Spoon, for the 5th year running," the Climate Council's energy expert, Andrew Stock said.

"Fortunately, we are seeing some progress from the Territory, which recently announced a draft aspirational target for net zero emissions by 2050.

"While this is an important step in the right direction, the draft plan supports the expansion of the Territory's gas and fracking industries, which is incompatible with achieving net zero emissions and effectively tackling climate change."

The NT Government lifted its three-year moratorium on exploration fracking for onshore shale gas last year, despite fierce opposition.

The move sparked widespread action across the Territory at a grassroots level including a group of anti-fracking protesters blocking a truck carrying equipment for fracking of exploratory wells in the Beetaloo Basin, and the first student-led climate strike in Katherine.

The NT Government released a draft Climate Change Response in October addressing the risks of the climate crisis while still creating new economic and business opportunities.

At the time, the government acknowledged climate change as one of the most pressing global challenges, and acknowledged Territorians want a heightened focus on building a renewables industry.

But in response to inquiries from the Katherine Times on whether it would ban fracking, a spokeswoman said: "The Independent Scientific Inquiry into hydraulic fracturing found that risks could be mitigated if all the recommendations of their report were implemented.

"[The] government has accepted all of the recommendations provided in the report, including recommendation 9.8, which states that the NT and Australian Government seek to ensure there is no net increase in the lifecycle emissions emitted in Australia from any onshore shale gas produced in the NT."

The Climate Council's report State of Play: Renewable Energy Leaders and Losers found South Australia now generates over half of its electricity from wind and solar and is aiming for net 100 percent renewable energy within the next 20 years.

The ACT is on track to achieve 100 percent renewable energy on January 1, 2020 and is the 8^th jurisdiction in the world with a population above 100,000 to achieve 100 percent renewable electricity.

Victoria and Queensland are progressing well on the transition to renewable energy, but will need to work hard to catch the frontrunners.

And while NSW and WA were revealed as the only states without a renewable energy target, the Northern Territory ranked last or near the bottom on most other metrics.

"The NT has huge renewable potential, with some of the best solar resources in the world, and could position itself as a national, if not a global powerhouse," climate councillor Greg Bourne said.

"Its renewable resources present tremendous economic opportunities, including the potential to export renewable energy to other Australian states and to Asia.

"States and territories are driving the transition to a renewable energy future, in the face of the Federal Government's reckless lack of leadership.

"As a result, several states and territories have declared the intention to go it alone on renewable energy policy."

The Northern Territory Government has been contacted for further comment.

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