The war on renewable energy is entering its final, desperate stages. It is inevitable that Australia and the world will soon be entirely powered by the wind, sun, waves and water. The only questions left are whether that will happen in time to prevent the worst impacts of global warming, if coal-mining communities will be supported through the transition, and exactly when the Coalition will crawl out of its ideological bunker and realise the battle is already over.

What makes me so sure that the game is up for fossil fuels? It's not the increasing shrillness of a national Treasurer fondling a lump of coal in our parliament, or the "truth overboard" attempts to blame renewable energy for everything from South Australian blackouts to arrested production at Alcoa's Portland aluminium smelter.

For three years in a row, there's been more investment globally in renewables than in fossil fuel power stations. Credit:Paul Jones

Neither is it the desperate parade of Coalition politicians, state and federal, promising to scrap renewable energy targets or bankroll new coal-burning power stations. Powerful industries will always have their political backers, and there's no doubt the coal, oil and gas lobbies are powerful.

No, it's the combination of three other factors – decisive financial markets, viral growth models and overwhelming community support for renewable energy.