"Australia went into these talks with an embarrassing emissions target that came from the fossil fuel lobby and its influence on government energy policies.

"The thing most in our favour on the international stage was that Tony Abbott was no longer leading our country.

"It's time for Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to shake off the climate policy hangover left by Tony Abbott and his band of climate deniers, and face a new day.

"Discussions at COP21 confirmed that investors globally are leery of being exposed to the financial risk now associated with fossil fuel assets.

"In Australia, we've seen the major banks backing away from fossil fuel investments. Yet the government continues with its increasingly desperate campaign to convince us that coal is good for humanity.

"Their dogged attempt to push through the massive Carmichael coal mine in the face of ever-sliding coal prices bucks global trends and sentiment about moving away from dirty fossil fuels.

"There was recognition in Paris that a global energy system based on renewables is the foundation for climate action going forward.

"We already have the technology to make a full transition to renewable energy in Australia, but much more political courage is needed to phase out fossil fuels and commit ourselves to a sunny future. Without this vision, Australians will be left behind in the global economy.

"The government must demonstrate its commitment to change with more policies to support development of the renewables industry, and set firm targets for the phase-in of renewables on a nationwide basis.

"Australia is now in a position to lead this shift, where it has been a laggard in other respects on climate change."

Activists wearing only cardboard boxes bearing the slogan ‘Better this than PFC gear’ highlighted the company’s use of dangerous chemicals called poly- and per-fluorinated chemicals (PFCs) in The North Face products. Hi-res photographs available here.

 Greenpeace campaigner Lagi Toribau said: “We looked for North Face waterproof products that don’t pollute the environment but couldn’t find any, so we made do with these boxes.

 “We’re all lovers of the outdoors, and it’s awful to think that by pitching a tent or wearing a jacket made by The North Face, you can be contributing to pollution.

“A company that claims to love the outdoors so much must play their part in protecting it – not polluting it with hazardous chemicals which contaminate even the most remote parts of the world and have been found in water supplies and the food chain.

“As a leading brand, The North Face can help lead the way in cleaning up outdoor clothing by eliminating dangerous chemicals from their products.”

Greenpeace activists targeted three stores: In Sydney, activists hit The North Face’s flagship Pitt Street store in Sydney and another The North Face store in Westfield in Bondi Junction. In Melbourne, activists targeted The North Face store in Bourke Street.

The demonstrations are a part of more than 100 actions taking place at The North Face and Mammut stores around the world this week after Greenpeace revealed that the companies widely use hazardous per- and polyfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) in their products.

As reported widely last week, per- and polyfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) were recently found to be widespread in the use of outdoor products1. PFCs are synthetic chemical compounds which have been found to pollute even the most pristine and remote parts of the environment2, and have been detected in water supplies, the food chain and human blood. They are associated with cancer and have been found to cause harm to reproductive and hormonal systems. Last year more than 200 scientists from 38 countries signed the Madrid statement3 recommending avoiding PFCs in consumer goods.

The report is the first global plant-by-plant study of the coal industry’s current and future water demand. Globally, 8,359 existing coal power plant units already consume enough water to meet the basic water needs of 1 billion people.

“Not only does coal pollute our skies and fuel climate change, it also deprives us of our most precious resource – water. If all the proposed coal plants around the world were built, the water they consume globally would almost double,” said Nikola Casule, Greenpeace Australia Pacific’s climate and energy campaigner.

In Australia, the report shows that the coal industry uses up 537.35m cubic metres of water every year – more water than could fit in Sydney Harbour (500m cubic metres).

“As an industry, coal is contributing less and less to Australia’s economy, but is still taking up enormous resources and inflicting lasting damage to our environment. The cost of propping up this industry is simply too high for Australians, and can no longer be justified,” said Dr Casule.

The Greenpeace research identifies the regions around the world that are already in water deficit, where existing and proposed coal plants would speed up the depletion of water resources. A quarter of the proposed new coal plants are planned in what Greenpeace calls ‘red-list areas’, where water is used faster than it is naturally replenishing.

The top countries with proposed additional coal plant capacity in red-list areas are China (237 gigawatts), India (52 GW) and Turkey (7 GW). Almost half of the proposed Chinese coal fleet is in red-list areas. In India and Turkey this figure is 13%.

Coal is one of the most water-intensive methods of generating electricity. According to the International Energy Agency, coal could account for 50% of the growth in global water consumption for power generation over the next 20 years. Greenpeace research shows that if the coal plants proposed globally come online, they will increase consumption of water by 90%.

“Australia must recognise that replacing coal with renewable energy will not only help the country to deliver on its climate commitments, but it will also save huge amounts of water. It’s more urgent than ever that we move towards a 100% renewable future,” said Dr Casule.

Greenpeace proposes three key policy steps which together can turn around the coal industry’s global water use:

• An immediate moratorium on coal expansion in regions with high water stress, and a transition from thirsty coal to energy that uses little or no water, like solar PV and wind.

• Replacing the planned coal plants in the red-list areas with renewable energy, such as solar PV and wind power, would avoid consumption of 1.8 billion cubic metres of water per year in China, and 1.2 billion cubic meters per year in India.

• Closing plants that have been operating for 40 years. The US, for example, could save a staggering 9 billion cubic meters of water by shutting down its old coal power plants.

"Australia went into these talks with an embarrassing emissions target that came from the fossil fuel lobby and its influence on government energy policies.

"The thing most in our favour on the international stage was that Tony Abbott was no longer leading our country.

"It's time for Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to shake off the climate policy hangover left by Tony Abbott and his band of climate deniers, and face a new day.

"Discussions at COP21 confirmed that investors globally are leery of being exposed to the financial risk now associated with fossil fuel assets.

"In Australia, we've seen the major banks backing away from fossil fuel investments. Yet the government continues with its increasingly desperate campaign to convince us that coal is good for humanity.

"Their dogged attempt to push through the massive Carmichael coal mine in the face of ever-sliding coal prices bucks global trends and sentiment about moving away from dirty fossil fuels.

"There was recognition in Paris that a global energy system based on renewables is the foundation for climate action going forward.

"We already have the technology to make a full transition to renewable energy in Australia, but much more political courage is needed to phase out fossil fuels and commit ourselves to a sunny future. Without this vision, Australians will be left behind in the global economy.

"The government must demonstrate its commitment to change with more policies to support development of the renewables industry, and set firm targets for the phase-in of renewables on a nationwide basis.

"Australia is now in a position to lead this shift, where it has been a laggard in other respects on climate change."

Queensland Government Minister Anthony Lynham today issued the mining lease for the massive Carmichael coal mine, which will see the mining of 60 million tonnes of coal every year.

“There is no question that the Reef is suffering right now. Coral scientists, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and even the Queensland Government have acknowledged the severity of this latest bleaching,” said Shani Tager, Greenpeace Australia Pacific’s Reef Campaigner.

“The federal and Queensland environment ministers are wringing their hands, despairing over the state of the Great Barrier Reef, yet at the same time they are paving the way for the nation’s biggest coal mine - a development that can only harm the Reef.

“Protecting the reef and approving the Carmichael mining lease are diametrically opposed. You cannot do both.

“This decision is appalling. The Great Barrier Reef is World Heritage-listed because it is a natural wonder of the world, and right now its most pristine areas are suffering from bleaching because the waters are too warm.

“The Queensland Government are supposed to be taking care of our Reef, instead they’re giving coal companies the green light to keep mining and burning coal that is driving climate change and bleaching our Reef,” said Ms Tager.

The proposed mine would be 28,000 hectares and has already been given a green light by the Federal Minister for the Environment, Greg Hunt.

“The Queensland Government has recognised that the bleaching means we need a rapid reduction in carbon emissions and yet they are approving a massive new coal mine. Coal that is exported and burnt overseas is still our problem, it is still hurting our Reef,” said Ms Tager.  

Despite the Government support, the Carmichael project remains in financial disarray and faces legal challenges as well as a coal market in structural decline.

“International investors have shunned Carmichael because funding it would be a major financial risk. It would be senseless for the Queensland or federal governments to throw any money into a project that makes no economic sense and would further threaten our fragile Reef,” she said.

If it ever got to full production, the Carmichael coal mine would put 121 million tonnes of greenhouse gas into the atmosphere each year.

 ENDS

Activists wearing only cardboard boxes bearing the slogan ‘Better this than PFC gear’ highlighted the company’s use of dangerous chemicals called poly- and per-fluorinated chemicals (PFCs) in The North Face products. Hi-res photographs available here.

 Greenpeace campaigner Lagi Toribau said: “We looked for North Face waterproof products that don’t pollute the environment but couldn’t find any, so we made do with these boxes.

 “We’re all lovers of the outdoors, and it’s awful to think that by pitching a tent or wearing a jacket made by The North Face, you can be contributing to pollution.

“A company that claims to love the outdoors so much must play their part in protecting it – not polluting it with hazardous chemicals which contaminate even the most remote parts of the world and have been found in water supplies and the food chain.

“As a leading brand, The North Face can help lead the way in cleaning up outdoor clothing by eliminating dangerous chemicals from their products.”

Greenpeace activists targeted three stores: In Sydney, activists hit The North Face’s flagship Pitt Street store in Sydney and another The North Face store in Westfield in Bondi Junction. In Melbourne, activists targeted The North Face store in Bourke Street.

The demonstrations are a part of more than 100 actions taking place at The North Face and Mammut stores around the world this week after Greenpeace revealed that the companies widely use hazardous per- and polyfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) in their products.

As reported widely last week, per- and polyfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) were recently found to be widespread in the use of outdoor products1. PFCs are synthetic chemical compounds which have been found to pollute even the most pristine and remote parts of the environment2, and have been detected in water supplies, the food chain and human blood. They are associated with cancer and have been found to cause harm to reproductive and hormonal systems. Last year more than 200 scientists from 38 countries signed the Madrid statement3 recommending avoiding PFCs in consumer goods.

Holding a banner saying “Forests not Fires: End Deforestation!” the activists are delivering a global petition with 30,000 signatures demanding companies take urgent steps to ensure deforestation-free supply chains.

Greenpeace Australia Pacific Forest Campaigner, Jess Panegyres said:

“There are companies with products on sale all across Australia that are not doing enough to protect the beautiful Indonesian rainforests, and today 30,000  Australians are demanding better.”

Greenpeace recently investigated 14 global consumer goods companies who have pledged ‘no deforestation’ policies. PepsiCo, Colgate-Palmolive and Johnson & Johnson were identified as failing to keep the ‘no deforestation’ promises they made to their customers.

“Palm oil is used in so many products and can be grown responsibly without destroying rainforests, harming local communities or endangering orangutans – but companies such as PepsiCo, Colgate-Palmolive and Johnson & Johnson continue to let their customers down.

“People should be able to brush their teeth or have a snack without pushing orangutans closer to extinction,” said Ms Panegyres.

On Friday, Indonesian President Joko Widodo announced a temporary ban on new palm oil and mining developments.

“The pledge to ban new palm oil and mining developments is welcome and necessary.

“However Greenpeace calculates there are 10 million of hectares of forests currently facing clearance in existing oil palm, pulp and mining concessions.

“The president must take measures to permanently protect forests and peatlands wherever they are - and companies who use palm oil must support this by ensuring there is no deforestation in their supply chains,” said Ms Panegyres.

The situation is critical for Indonesia’s forests. The country has lost 31 million hectares of forest since 1990, and the palm oil industry is a leading cause of deforestation in Indonesia. 

Decades of deforestation was a root cause of the fires that devastated Indonesia last year.

To date, 30,000 Australians – and over 450,000 people around the world - have signed the petition to the global CEOs of PepsiCo, Colgate-Palmolive and Johnson & Johnson and companies that use palm oil to take immediate action to prevent another fires crisis.

A recent Greenpeace investigation found that only a few companies were making significant headway towards ensuring that there is no deforestation in their palm oil supply chains, and most are moving far too slowly. While there are very different degrees of progress, none of the companies can yet guarantee that their supply of palm oil is not linked to deforestation.

ENDS

“Right now, the Great Barrier Reef, is undergoing the worst bleaching on record due to climate change, and it may get worse.

“But so far, Malcolm Turnbull and his government have disappointed Australians on a number of fronts. This includes a failure to commit to ambitious climate change policies despite the United Nations deal that was sealed in Paris last year.

“If returned to office, Mr Turnbull needs to use his mandate to take a principled position on protecting our environment, and honouring the Paris Agreement to the letter.

“Polls have shown time and again that Australians believe the government is not doing enough to tackle climate change. A credible climate change policy needs to look beyond the fossil fuels we burn at home and deal with the coal we mine and ship to be burnt overseas.

“The science is clear: for the world to limit global warming to below 2°C, over 90% of Australia’s coal must stay in the ground. That means moving beyond a mining-boom economy and embracing the industries of the future in sectors such as renewable energy.

“Mr Turnbull has already flagged the need to move in this direction, but we are yet to see any meaningful details. It’s time to spell out this vision so we can go beyond a coal-based economy and towards the innovative, technology-driven jobs of the future.”

Greenpeace Australia Pacific today launches its ‘Coal-Free’ campaign to call for a transition away from a coal-based economy and towards a future free from coal pollution that protects our climate and Reef.

“We are urging all election candidates to spell out what they will do to deliver a future free from coal, and how they will drive the just transition to renewable energy which is the key to protecting our environment and looking after workers left out in the cold by an industry in decline,” said Dr Casule.

ENDS

The ARC Centre of Excellence in Coral Reef Studies today announced only 7 percent of the Great Barrier Reef has avoided coral bleaching and that surveys of the northern Reef show 50-90% mortality from corals that have bleached.

“This is heartbreaking news that the Australian Government must act on. It’s not good enough for them to say they care about the Reef while they keep backing the coal industry and avoid tackling climate change,” said Greenpeace Australia Pacific reef campaigner, Shani Tager.

“The most pristine part of the Great Barrier Reef is on the brink of permanent damage. Now is the time to act, to put the brakes on the coal industry before this sort of devastating bleaching becomes an annual event.

“Mining and burning coal is driving climate change and warming our waters and the Reef is getting more and more fragile as a result,” said Ms Tager.

ENDS

Greenpeace’s ‘Exporting climate change, killing the Reef’ briefing comes as Australia’s World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef undergoes its worst coral bleaching in history, with almost the entire Reef experiencing some level of bleaching [1] due to warming waters, and as the country prepares to sign the Paris Agreement on climate change at the end of the week.

“The Australian Government wants us to believe it is proactive about climate change, but in reality it’s sending its emissions overseas through its coal exports,” said Shani Tager, Greenpeace Australia Pacific’s climate and reef campaigner.

“Australia is the world’s largest coal exporter [2] and is avoiding responsibility for its contribution to global carbon emissions. By doing so, the Australian Government is ignoring the most serious threat to the Reef—climate change.

“This isn’t a future threat, it’s one that is playing out right now before our eyes, with coral bleaching on 93 percent of the Great Barrier Reef, and severe bleaching on the most pristine northern parts.

"The Australian Government cannot say it is safeguarding the health of the Reef when it is doing everything it can to avoid tackling the greatest threat it faces, which is coal-driven climate change,” said Ms Tager.

In addition to not reducing Australia’s domestic CO​2 ​emissions since 1990,  coal export volumes have more than tripled in the same period to 400 million tonnes per annum.

With every Australian tonne of coal emitting 2.5 tonnes of CO​2 on average wherever it is used, this means Australia’s CO​2​ exports through coal have increased by a massive 253% since ​1990, the Greenpeace briefing shows.

“Australia’s climate change response and its signature on the Paris Agreement simply won’t be credible as long as it sends more carbon emissions abroad than it saves at home, and pushes its coal exports.

“The future of the Great Barrier Reef is at stake. It’s time for the Australian Government to be ratifying the Paris Agreement and speeding up their response to climate change, including a commitment that no new coal mines be dug and for coal exports to be phased out,” she said.

ENDS

[1] “Only 7 percent of the Great Barrier Reef has avoided coral bleaching”, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, April 2016.

[2]Coal Medium-Term Market Report 2015, p.16, International Energy Agency.

Downlaod full PDF Version: 'Exporting climate change, killing the Reef'

Exporting Climate Change & Killing the Reef by Greenpeace Australia Pacific

"Australia went into these talks with an embarrassing emissions target that came from the fossil fuel lobby and its influence on government energy policies.

"The thing most in our favour on the international stage was that Tony Abbott was no longer leading our country.

"It's time for Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to shake off the climate policy hangover left by Tony Abbott and his band of climate deniers, and face a new day.

"Discussions at COP21 confirmed that investors globally are leery of being exposed to the financial risk now associated with fossil fuel assets.

"In Australia, we've seen the major banks backing away from fossil fuel investments. Yet the government continues with its increasingly desperate campaign to convince us that coal is good for humanity.

"Their dogged attempt to push through the massive Carmichael coal mine in the face of ever-sliding coal prices bucks global trends and sentiment about moving away from dirty fossil fuels.

"There was recognition in Paris that a global energy system based on renewables is the foundation for climate action going forward.

"We already have the technology to make a full transition to renewable energy in Australia, but much more political courage is needed to phase out fossil fuels and commit ourselves to a sunny future. Without this vision, Australians will be left behind in the global economy.

"The government must demonstrate its commitment to change with more policies to support development of the renewables industry, and set firm targets for the phase-in of renewables on a nationwide basis.

"Australia is now in a position to lead this shift, where it has been a laggard in other respects on climate change."

Activists wearing only cardboard boxes bearing the slogan ‘Better this than PFC gear’ highlighted the company’s use of dangerous chemicals called poly- and per-fluorinated chemicals (PFCs) in The North Face products. Hi-res photographs available here.

 Greenpeace campaigner Lagi Toribau said: “We looked for North Face waterproof products that don’t pollute the environment but couldn’t find any, so we made do with these boxes.

 “We’re all lovers of the outdoors, and it’s awful to think that by pitching a tent or wearing a jacket made by The North Face, you can be contributing to pollution.

“A company that claims to love the outdoors so much must play their part in protecting it – not polluting it with hazardous chemicals which contaminate even the most remote parts of the world and have been found in water supplies and the food chain.

“As a leading brand, The North Face can help lead the way in cleaning up outdoor clothing by eliminating dangerous chemicals from their products.”

Greenpeace activists targeted three stores: In Sydney, activists hit The North Face’s flagship Pitt Street store in Sydney and another The North Face store in Westfield in Bondi Junction. In Melbourne, activists targeted The North Face store in Bourke Street.

The demonstrations are a part of more than 100 actions taking place at The North Face and Mammut stores around the world this week after Greenpeace revealed that the companies widely use hazardous per- and polyfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) in their products.

As reported widely last week, per- and polyfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) were recently found to be widespread in the use of outdoor products1. PFCs are synthetic chemical compounds which have been found to pollute even the most pristine and remote parts of the environment2, and have been detected in water supplies, the food chain and human blood. They are associated with cancer and have been found to cause harm to reproductive and hormonal systems. Last year more than 200 scientists from 38 countries signed the Madrid statement3 recommending avoiding PFCs in consumer goods.

“This is jaw-dropping news, especially while the Great Barrier Reef is suffering from its worst-ever coral bleaching. We want an explanation from Malcolm Turnbull over how this can happen and an investigation into this decision.

“The Australian public is owed an explanation over how and why this happened, and immediate steps put in place to ensure our scientists are independent of government intervention.

“The Australian government cannot hide the truth from the international community: our Reef is suffering because of climate change.

“By interfering with the UN report, the Australian government was effectively throwing the Great Barrier Reef under a bus for wrong-headed, short-term gain. They’re trying to pull wool over Australian’s eyes about serious threats to the future of our greatest natural wonder.

“This kind of action shows the culture of climate change denialism that has been embedded in the government because of pressure from the Coalition.

“It is beyond the pale for the thousands of Australians who are seriously concerned about the health of the Reef.

“We’ve already seen this culture in action with the cuts to the CSIRO and attempts to undermine the renewable energy industry. It must be stopped before we lose the Great Barrier Reef and Australia’s environment is irrevocably damaged.”

Scientists from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies today announced a massive 35 percent of the coral bleached in the northern and central northern and central Great Barrier Reef has died from this year’s unprecedented global coral bleaching.

“This is the devastating price we’re paying for Australia’s addiction to coal mining. This coral will be lost forever and our Reef will be changed forever,” said Greenpeace reef campaigner Shani Tager.

“We’re seeing climate change devastate our reef while the Government is actively trying to re-write history and pretend that climate change isn’t having an impact.

“This is the election that can make or break the reef’s future, depending on how the next government tackles climate change.

“The Great Barrier Reef is one of the seven natural wonders of the world, home to thousands of animals and incredible biodiversity. Our governments need to stop propping up the fossil fuel industry and start supporting renewable energy solutions.

Labor today announced $500 million in reef water quality funding over five years compared to the Liberal party’s $123 million over the same time frame.

“The money promised for the reef today by Labor and in the budget by the Liberals is a drop in the ocean compared to the $7.7 billion they’re handing out to the fossil fuel industry each year. Both Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Bill Shorten need to get serious about phasing out the coal industry and addressing climate change to stop this sort of devastation happening again.

“Poll after poll shows Australians think the politicians should do more about climate change, yet our leaders have side-stepped this responsibility. Politicians are twiddling their thumbs while our World Heritage-listed reef is fighting for survival,” said Ms Tager.

Greenpeace is calling on Australians to vote for a clean energy future in the federal election, which includes a transition away coal and other fossil fuels - the primary sources of greenhouse gases.

Activists wearing only cardboard boxes bearing the slogan ‘Better this than PFC gear’ highlighted the company’s use of dangerous chemicals called poly- and per-fluorinated chemicals (PFCs) in The North Face products. Hi-res photographs available here.

 Greenpeace campaigner Lagi Toribau said: “We looked for North Face waterproof products that don’t pollute the environment but couldn’t find any, so we made do with these boxes.

 “We’re all lovers of the outdoors, and it’s awful to think that by pitching a tent or wearing a jacket made by The North Face, you can be contributing to pollution.

“A company that claims to love the outdoors so much must play their part in protecting it – not polluting it with hazardous chemicals which contaminate even the most remote parts of the world and have been found in water supplies and the food chain.

“As a leading brand, The North Face can help lead the way in cleaning up outdoor clothing by eliminating dangerous chemicals from their products.”

Greenpeace activists targeted three stores: In Sydney, activists hit The North Face’s flagship Pitt Street store in Sydney and another The North Face store in Westfield in Bondi Junction. In Melbourne, activists targeted The North Face store in Bourke Street.

The demonstrations are a part of more than 100 actions taking place at The North Face and Mammut stores around the world this week after Greenpeace revealed that the companies widely use hazardous per- and polyfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) in their products.

As reported widely last week, per- and polyfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) were recently found to be widespread in the use of outdoor products1. PFCs are synthetic chemical compounds which have been found to pollute even the most pristine and remote parts of the environment2, and have been detected in water supplies, the food chain and human blood. They are associated with cancer and have been found to cause harm to reproductive and hormonal systems. Last year more than 200 scientists from 38 countries signed the Madrid statement3 recommending avoiding PFCs in consumer goods.

Nikola Casule, Greenpeace’s Climate campaigner said:

“Tahmoor’s closure is one of the strongest market signals yet that coal is on the way out, and it’s been sent by Glencore itself, the world’s largest coal exporting company.

“The Coalition and Labor parties should wake up to themselves and heed this searing reality check. There is simply no growth to be had from the coal market, where prices are collapsing globally and with no chance of recovery.

“That Glencore is closing this mine - rather its favoured practice of cutting staff and production - shows how little appetite there is to buy into the coal industry, let alone expand it.

“Not only that, this closure shows how little substance there is to traditional party claims there is still strong demand for metallurgical coal, which is used in steel making and is what Tahmoor produced.

“Worst of all, Glencore is failing to implement a transition plan for the 350 coal mine workers at Tahmoor, who will be left stranded by this closure.

“Both major parties are failing Australians by refusing to acknowledge they have a responsibility to create a transition plan for coal workers and by ignoring the potential for an economy based on renewable energy.”

ENDS

“While the Great Barrier Reef is suffering from the impacts of mining and burning coal, now is the time to ensure Australia is assessing the damage caused by our coal and we strongly welcome this case,” said Greenpeace Australia Pacific reef campaigner Shani Tager.

In a previous appeal, the company argued that coal burned from the proposed mine would not increase global emissions and thus have no impact on climate change.

“Australia is responsible for the carbon emissions from our coal,” said Tager. “The government’s argument simply doesn’t pass the pub test – it doesn’t matter where it is burned, this coal will have the same impact on the climate and on the Great Barrier Reef.

“The Australian government has committed to global target to limit global warming to 2C and the Queensland Government has stated the importance of dealing with climate change for the future of the reef. The science is crystal clear – in order to do this more than 90% of coal has to stay in the ground.”

Australian coal exports will this year produce 1bn tonnes of CO2 – almost twice as much as the country’s domestic emissions. Australia’s CO2 exports through coal have increased by a massive 253% since 1990.[1]

Tager added: “We’re seeing the world move away from coal with Chinese and Indian coal imports continuing to drop. Now is the time for our governments to stop backing an industry with a shrinking market and disastrous consequences on our climate and Great Barrier Reef.”

Nikola Casule, Greenpeace’s Climate campaigner said:

“Tahmoor’s closure is one of the strongest market signals yet that coal is on the way out, and it’s been sent by Glencore itself, the world’s largest coal exporting company.

“The Coalition and Labor parties should wake up to themselves and heed this searing reality check. There is simply no growth to be had from the coal market, where prices are collapsing globally and with no chance of recovery.

“That Glencore is closing this mine - rather its favoured practice of cutting staff and production - shows how little appetite there is to buy into the coal industry, let alone expand it.

“Not only that, this closure shows how little substance there is to traditional party claims there is still strong demand for metallurgical coal, which is used in steel making and is what Tahmoor produced.

“Worst of all, Glencore is failing to implement a transition plan for the 350 coal mine workers at Tahmoor, who will be left stranded by this closure.

“Both major parties are failing Australians by refusing to acknowledge they have a responsibility to create a transition plan for coal workers and by ignoring the potential for an economy based on renewable energy.”

ENDS

“Prime Minister Turnbull’s announcement fails to include any new money for the Great Barrier Reef. It doesn’t address climate change and the mining and burning of coal which are the biggest threats to the future of the reef.

“The money announced today has already been promised to renewable energy. Today’s announcement isn’t going to lead to any additional renewable energy projects being built and we know that for a healthy reef we need a rapid increase in new renewable projects being built and a phase out of coal mining.

“This is Turnbull trying to look like he’s doing something for the Great Barrier Reef while standing on the spot. This is simply not good enough when the reef is suffering from its worst coral bleaching in history.

“In addition to being home to thousands of fish and other marine life, the Great Barrier Reef supports almost 70,000 jobs in Queensland and it’s troubling that neither major party are prepared to take the necessary steps to protect this incredible place.”

Greenpeace Australia Pacific is calling on the parties to take to the election a credible plan to phase out coal mining and a just transition to sustainable jobs in technology and renewable energy.

“While the Great Barrier Reef is suffering from the impacts of mining and burning coal, now is the time to ensure Australia is assessing the damage caused by our coal and we strongly welcome this case,” said Greenpeace Australia Pacific reef campaigner Shani Tager.

In a previous appeal, the company argued that coal burned from the proposed mine would not increase global emissions and thus have no impact on climate change.

“Australia is responsible for the carbon emissions from our coal,” said Tager. “The government’s argument simply doesn’t pass the pub test – it doesn’t matter where it is burned, this coal will have the same impact on the climate and on the Great Barrier Reef.

“The Australian government has committed to global target to limit global warming to 2C and the Queensland Government has stated the importance of dealing with climate change for the future of the reef. The science is crystal clear – in order to do this more than 90% of coal has to stay in the ground.”

Australian coal exports will this year produce 1bn tonnes of CO2 – almost twice as much as the country’s domestic emissions. Australia’s CO2 exports through coal have increased by a massive 253% since 1990.[1]

Tager added: “We’re seeing the world move away from coal with Chinese and Indian coal imports continuing to drop. Now is the time for our governments to stop backing an industry with a shrinking market and disastrous consequences on our climate and Great Barrier Reef.”