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.”

“To give BP the go-ahead with oil exploration would put Australia on the same dangerous path they took to the Gulf of Mexico disaster in 2010,” said Greenpeace Australia Pacific’s Oceans campaigner, Nathaniel Pelle.

“The latest spill and response models, released only days before a decision was originally due, prove BP’s Bight ambitions are an even bigger gamble than previously thought. Oil from an uncontrolled spill could reach the shoreline in every state except Queensland, at a terrible price to local people and the Bight’s unique and precious wildlife.

“The maths is frightening. According to BP itself, within 20 days of a leak, Adelaide, Kangaroo Island and Port Lincoln could be doused in toxic oil and chemicals. BP says it could take 35 days to cap a leaky well off the Great Australian Bight. In the case of the Deepwater Horizon, it took 87.

“The National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA) should reject BP’s plans once and for all, before they progress any further,” said Pelle.

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.

“This settlement is woefully inadequate, given the damage this ship has caused.

“The government has said the full cleanup will cost more than $140m so to settle for such a small figure is disappointing. [1]

“While we welcome the end of this six-year saga, it has to serve as a reminder that accidents happen. It’s clear that coal and the reef don’t mix and the government needs to do more to protect this precious place.

“Coal port expansions and new coal mines would make a repeat of this accident more likely in future and must be ruled out,” she added.

[1] Costs to remove toxic paint from Great Barrier Reef 'triples' to $141 million, Brisbane Times, 7 May 2016.

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.”

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.

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.

"To claim Australia has made good progress on protecting the reef during a period in which more than 20% of the Great Barrier Reef's coral was killed during a bleaching event is bizarre.

"A plan to protect the reef that fails to address climate change is not fit for purpose. 

"The Reef 2050 plan will fail unless the Queensland and Australian governments realise that to protect the reef, Australia needs to combat global warming.  

“We need to see more progress in preventing land clearing in Queensland, but ultimately we have to stop approving new coal mines because the mining and burning of coal is one the main drivers of the bleaching events that damaged the reef earlier this year."

“BP have again failed to gain approval to drill - this third strike should see them out for good,” said Greenpeace Oceans campaigner Nathaniel Pelle.

Australia's oil regulator has today rejected BP's environmenment plan for a third time and asked for more information.

“BP still can’t show they can deal effectively with an oil spill in the Great Australian Bight. In their half-baked environment plan overview, BP themselves say they’d rather save time and money, than bring essential safety equipment to Australia.

“They admit it could take five weeks to stop a spill, by which time much of the Bight’s unique environment would be wrecked. It happened in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010, and it could happen here.

“It’s time for BP to take the hint. Australia’s own oil and gas regulator can’t greenlight the project because it’s just too risky.

“To go ahead with oil exploration in a whale sanctuary without the best oil spill safety equipment on hand would be reckless and irresponsible. It’s time to end this charade,” said Pelle.

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.”

“If Karoon goes ahead, an oil spill from their permit area would pollute the coasts of Kangaroo Island and Port Lincoln even faster than a spill from BP’s proposed rig. Unbelievably, the permit area also overlaps with marine reserves.”

“The Great Australian Bight should not be for sale. Yet BP, Statoil, Chevron, Murphy, Santos, Bight Petroleum and now Karoon are gearing up to turn precious natural heritage on our doorstep into the next Gulf of Mexico. Any of the 15 or more planned oil rigs could be the next Deepwater Horizon.”

He concluded: “The Great Australian Bight cannot become the next Gulf of Mexico or the Niger Delta. The regulators don’t seem to be accounting for this, or the cumulative effects of a fully developed oil province.”

“We have to stop this lunatic oil grab now, starting with the first offenders: BP.”

Download Karoon Gas’ own press release here.