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.

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

“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.

ENDS

Greenpeace Australia Pacific’s chief executive David Ritter said: “Malcolm Turnbull got into power with a promise to take real action on climate change but he has not delivered.

“Climate science jobs have been cut, enormous new coal mines have been approved, UN reports on climate change have been censored, and we’ve witnessed an inadequate response to the worst bleaching of the Great Barrier Reef in recorded history.

“We’ve seen absolutely no commitment from the prime minister to tackle the root cause of climate change and coral bleaching, which is carbon pollution from mining and burning fossil fuels such as coal.

“Mr Turnbull’s inaction is devastating for the Great Barrier Reef and for the millions of Australians who want to see real leadership on climate change.

“Opinion polls clearly show the country wants action.  It is not polling day yet - there is still time for the Prime Minister to show clear leadership before election day.”

Elsewhere in the prime minister’s Wentworth electorate today, hundreds of local constituents rallied to ask Mr Turnbull to do more to protect the Great Barrier Reef and tackle climate change.

The protests cap a week of mounting discontent over the prime minister’s lack of action on climate change.

On Friday, Greenpeace Australia Pacific activists targeted the prime minister’s electorate office, unfurling a banner warning Mr Turnbull that this year’s bleaching of the Great Barrier Reef would be his legacy unless he did more to protect the reef.

Yesterday, a floatilla of Australian Pacific Islanders in kayaks arrived in Sydney Harbour from Parramatta to demand Mr Turnbull do more to protect the Pacific Islands from the threat of climate change. Subversive advertisements about coral bleaching “brought to you by the coal industry” have also appeared throughout Australian cities this week.

“Almost 80% of Australians want the Great Barrier Reef prioritised over the coal industry. Malcolm Turnbull can’t have both, and so far he’s chosen coal [1],” said Mr Ritter.

ENDS

[1] YourVote: Great Barrier Reef should be prioritised over coal mining, survey shows, Sydney Morning Herald, June 14, 2016.

“Every new prime minister starts with a fresh chance. Mr Turnbull now has the personal mandate to act on climate change. It’s time for him to step up to do what he knows is right for Australia and consistent with his own intellect and principles.

“The reality is, if Mr Turnbull had gone to the people with the climate ambition that he knows is right, he would probably have a much bigger margin now. It is time to finally jettison the Abbott baggage.

“All over Australia, individuals, local communities and the entrepreneurs of the renewables industry are ready and willing to put a hand out to the prime minister to work together to do the right thing on climate change.

“Emissions targets that reflect the best science, fostering rapid innovation in the renewables sector, commitment to global best practice and removing industry subsidies and protection for the coal industry could be the keystones of a rebooted Turnbull approach.

“The swings against the Coalition in this election show that Australians are unhappy with the government of the last three years, including major policy failures on climate change, the Great Barrier Reef and the influence of the fossil fuel companies.

“Australians are sick of seeing a fringe group of coal-pushers hold the government to ransom on climate action. For the good of his new government and the future of our country, it is essential that Mr Turnbull now follows his principles and acts on climate change.

“If there is no change, the Coalition’s low emissions reduction targets and lack of any policy to curb Australian coal exports, together with its support for new coal mines in Queensland and elsewhere, will have a devastating impact on the Great Barrier Reef.

“Coal is in terminal decline and it makes no sense to prop up this destructive and declining sector. Australia needs a transition plan - including fair transition arrangements for communities and workers.

“As the world’s top coal exporter, this year alone, the offshore burning of Australia’s coal exports will generate one billion tonnes of carbon dioxide [1].

“A moratorium on the construction of new coal mines, including Adani’s massive Carmichael mine, is a logical first step in a complete phase out of coal. There are no good reasons to keep propping up this sunset industry,” said Mr Ritter.

Greenpeace Australia Pacific’s climate change policy demands to the major parties can be found here.

ENDS

[1] “Exporting climate change, killing the Reef: Australia's post-Paris contributions”, Greenpeace Australia Pacific, April 2016.

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

“The appointment of Josh Frydenberg is a huge blow for the health of the Great Barrier Reef.

“Frydenberg’s views on climate change are an embarrassing relic from a different era.

“Australians have been clear in asking their government to choose the Great Barrier Reef over the coal industry.

“For Malcolm Turnbull to appoint a minister who still believes that there is still a strong moral case for coal even during the worst coral bleaching in the Great Barrier Reef’s history is clear show of contempt for the Australian public."

“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.”

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

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.

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.

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

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

“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.

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.