New coal approval undercuts 2035 local weather aim, earlier than it’s even set

THE ALBANESE Government’s resolution to approve the growth of Glencore’s Ulan coal mine till 2035, revealed at present, is a harmful step backwards that undermines efforts to protect Australians from worsening local weather hurt.

The resolution comes because the Climate Council releases new evaluation at present quantifying the impression of the Albanese Government’s fossil gasoline venture approvals on Australia’s air pollution and our local weather targets.

The Ulan extension would produce an additional 18 million tonnes of coal, which when burnt, will launch greater than 41 million tonnes of local weather air pollution in Australia and abroad – equal to taking on 500 million flights from Sydney to Melbourne.

Climate Councillor Greg Bourne stated: “Extending this polluting coal mine places extra Australians in hurt’s means. The science is evident: coal manufacturing should fall quickly if we’re to keep away from the worst impacts of local weather change. But at present, the Federal Government waved by means of a venture that can spew out over 40 million tonnes of local weather air pollution. That’s double the air pollution from NSW’s complete transport sector in 2022.

“The Albanese Government acknowledges that climate change is fuelling harsher bushfires, longer droughts, and more destructive floods. Yet our outdated environment laws mean projects like this keep getting waved through without considering their climate damage” Greg Bourne stated.

“Australian communities and the places we love are suffering the devastating impacts of climate change. Coral at Ningaloo and the Great Barrier Reef are bleaching to death. Marine heatwaves and algal blooms are wiping out South Australia’s marine life. Approving new coal and gas will make these devastating events more intense and more frequent.”

Climate Council CEO, Amanda McKenzie stated: “It’s nonsensical to chop local weather air pollution with one hand whereas approving new coal initiatives with the opposite.

“Every time this authorities waves by means of a brand new coal or gasoline venture, it undercuts Australia’s 2035 local weather aim earlier than it’s even set. Our evaluation (connected) reveals we’d already be ranging from a clearly stronger place – about 10 million tonnes nearer to web zero – if the federal government had merely adopted the science and stopped greenlighting extra fossil fuels.

“If the Government needs its 2035 local weather goal to be taken critically, it should cease approving new and expanded coal and gasoline initiatives. Approving extra coal now makes it more durable to satisfy our local weather targets, and places Australians at better danger of worsening local weather disasters.

“While coal and gas projects are still being waved through without considering their climate damage, the Government can’t credibly claim it’s doing everything possible to fight climate change. It’s time to stop rubber-stamping pollution and start making decisions that put people’s lives and livelihoods first.”

ENDS

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The Climate Council is Australia’s main community-funded local weather change communications organisation. We present authoritative, professional and evidence-based recommendation on local weather change to journalists, policymakers, and the broader Australian neighborhood.

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