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NASA scientist links Australian coal exports to species destruction
Wednesday, 07 January 2009
Greens MP and mining spokesperson Lee Rhiannon said today that thewarning from leading NASA scientist James Hansen that Australian coal
exports "guarantee destruction of much of the life on the planet" should
be a wake up call to Australian political leaders. (p. 1, Sydney Morning
Herald, 7 January 2009).
"In Australia the only way to be serious about climate change is to
develop a transition plan for the coal industry and invest in
sustainable energy," Ms Rhiannon said.
"With Australia's 230 million tonnes annual coal exports adding more
than 550 million tonnes of carbon dioxide to the world's greenhouse gas
burden each year, Premier Nathan Rees cannot ignore Mr Hansen's warning.
"Mr Hansen has done a great service to the world by targeting
Australian coal exports as a chief climate change culprit.
"In NSW coal mines are being approved at a record rate.
"Twelve new NSW coal mine projects resulting in an additional 32
million tonnes of coal production were approved in 2008. This is a
substantial increase on the five new coal mine projects adopted in 2006.
These projects increased NSW coal production by an additional 16.5
million tones of coal.
"Both Labor and Coalition parties in this country have for decades
given massive handouts to the coal industry. A recent research paper
commissioned by the Greens revealed that from 1998 to 2007 a staggering
$10 billion in direct and indirect subsidies was given to the coal
industry.
"Mr Hansen's statement on Australian coal exports should push Premier
Rees to put the future of the coal industry centre stage in NSW's
climate change response plan.
"The Premier should start by slashing the annual $1 billion a year
subsidy to the coal industry in NSW. Much of that money is spent on coal
infrastructure.
"Mr Hansen has detailed how deadly such subsidies can be. He has stated
'.. coal trains will be death trains - no less gruesome than if they
were boxcars headed to crematoria, loaded with uncountable irreplaceable
species',".
"The Greens are campaigning for no new coal mines and no expansion of
Newcastle's coal port operations," Ms Rhiannon said.
For more information: Greens MP Lee Rhiannon - 9230 3551, 0427 861
568
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