Australia riding coal train despite climate pleas

AFP, SYDNEY: It is a battle being played out around resource-rich Australia. In one corner ecologists, and climate change campaigners, who warn coal mines are ticking “carbon bombs”; in the other, mining giants and politicians, who argue they are vital for economic success.
Coal is the nation’s second most valuable export, adding almost $30 billion to the economy in 2013-14, and supports 150,000 jobs, according to the Minerals Council of Australia (MCA).  But the country is also one of the world’s worse per capita greenhouse gas polluters, due to heavy use of coal-fired power—it provides around 75 per cent of the country’s electricity—and a relatively small population of 23 million.
These tensions between the environment and economy are something the residents of Bulga in New South Wales know all too well.
They have been engaged in a six-year David versus Goliath fight against the state government and mining giant Rio Tinto to halt the expansion of a nearby coal mine, which has involved court cases and protests.
Last week (Nov 27) New South Wales approved the extension of the long-standing Mount Thorley Warkworth mine, despite fears it would result in wildlife habitat destruction, reduced air quality, and through the burning of the coal, release even more of the greenhouse gases blamed for climate change.
Resident and campaigner John Krey said the community has vowed to fight on, accusing the state of “swimming against the tide of history” by pushing for the mine, as world leaders meet in Paris to discuss curbing carbon emissions.
“Here we are announcing that there will be another massive coal expansion, producing more of that stuff that the world doesn’t seem to think should be produced,” he told AFP.
But Rio Tinto said receiving approval to expand the mine, which employs 1,300, was a “great relief for thousands”. It estimated that over the lifetime of the mine, the New South Wales economy would be boosted by $1.1 billion in wages, royalties and taxes.
Australia has vast reserves of the mineral which is fuelling plans to ramp up coal exports and there are dozens of projects designed to feed growing Asian demand in the pipeline.
But it has been criticised for not setting high enough targets for carbon emission reductions, with sceptics saying its pledge to cut emissions by 26 per cent from 2005 levels by 2030 falls short of the nation’s fair share globally.
Speaking in Paris, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said Australia was undaunted by the climate change challenge, pledging to redirect $800 million from its foreign aid budget to help at-risk Pacific islands, as well as investment into renewable energy research.
But he has previously dismissed demands to scale back coal production, saying a moratorium on new mines would “make not the blindest bit of difference to global emissions” warning other nations would supply it, if Australia stopped.
Environmentalists argue UN hopes of curbing global warming to less than two degrees Celsius (3.6 Farenheit) are incompatible with the nation’s coal expansion plans.
Australia produced 527 million tonnes of coal in 2012-13 and the Minerals Council of Australia says energy demand is expected to grow by 80 per cent in south east Asia alone by 2040, with coal expected to supply 40 per cent of the growth in electricity generation.
“We’ve got to be reducing emissions not increasing them and any more digging up of coal goes in the opposite direction from where we must go,” says Lesley Hughes from the Australian Climate Council, an independent body.
Hughes says mines planned for the eastern Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales are in contrast to government commitments to lower pollution.
“Where the coal is burnt is not the point, it’s that it’s being burnt and we have to reduce it being burnt everywhere,” Hughes tells AFP.
Campaigners say with as many as nine large mines proposed for Queensland’s Galilee Basin alone, including the massive India-backed Carmichael project, Australia could see its coal exports double in a decade.

Australia riding coal train despite climate pleas

AFP, SYDNEY: It is a battle being played out around resource-rich Australia. In one corner ecologists, and climate change campaigners, who warn coal mines are ticking carbon bombs; in the other, mining giants and politicians, who argue they are vital for economic success. Coal is the nations second most valuable export, adding almost $30 billion to the economy in 2013-14, and supports 150,000 jobs, according to the Minerals Council of Australia (MCA). But the country is also one of the worlds worse per capita greenhouse gas polluters, due to heavy use of coal-fired powerit provides around 75 per cent of the countrys electricityand a relatively small population of 23 million. These tensions between the environment and economy are something the residents of Bulga in New South Wales know all too well. They have been engaged in a six-year David versus Goliath fight against the state government and mining giant Rio Tinto to halt the expansion of a nearby coal mine, which has involved court cases and protests. Last week (Nov 27) New South Wales approved the extension of the long-standing Mount Thorley Warkworth mine, despite fears it would result in wildlife habitat destruction, reduced air quality, and through the burning of the coal, release even more of the greenhouse gases blamed for climate change. Resident and campaigner John Krey said the community has vowed to fight on, accusing the state of swimming against the tide of history by pushing for the mine, as world leaders meet in Paris to discuss curbing carbon emissions. Here we are announcing that there will be another massive coal expansion, producing more of that stuff that the world doesnt seem to think should be produced, he told AFP. But Rio Tinto said receiving approval to expand the mine, which employs 1,300, was a great relief for thousands. It estimated that over the lifetime of the mine, the New South Wales economy would be boosted by $1.1 billion in wages, royalties and taxes. Australia has vast reserves of the mineral which is fuelling plans to ramp up coal exports and there are dozens of projects designed to feed growing Asian demand in the pipeline. But it has been criticised for not setting high enough targets for carbon emission reductions, with sceptics saying its pledge to cut emissions by 26 per cent from 2005 levels by 2030 falls short of the nations fair share globally. Speaking in Paris, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said Australia was undaunted by the climate change challenge, pledging to redirect $800 million from its foreign aid budget to help at-risk Pacific islands, as well as investment into renewable energy research. But he has previously dismissed demands to scale back coal production, saying a moratorium on new mines would make not the blindest bit of difference to global emissions warning other nations would supply it, if Australia stopped. Environmentalists argue UN hopes of curbing global warming to less than two degrees Celsius (3.6 Farenheit) are incompatible with the nations coal expansion plans. Australia produced 527 million tonnes of coal in 2012-13 and the Minerals Council of Australia says energy demand is expected to grow by 80 per cent in south east Asia alone by 2040, with coal expected to supply 40 per cent of the growth in electricity generation. Weve got to be reducing emissions not increasing them and any more digging up of coal goes in the opposite direction from where we must go, says Lesley Hughes from the Australian Climate Council, an independent body. Hughes says mines planned for the eastern Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales are in contrast to government commitments to lower pollution. Where the coal is burnt is not the point, its that its being burnt and we have to reduce it being burnt everywhere, Hughes tells AFP. Campaigners say with as many as nine large mines proposed for Queenslands Galilee Basin alone, including the massive India-backed Carmichael project, Australia could see its coal exports double in a decade.