This weekend UNESCO released a report which found world heritage coral reefs around the globe would continue to be killed off by bleaching events unless CO2 emissions are drastically reduced to limit global temperature increase to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels.
“What the UNESCO report makes clear is that the government’s Reef 2050 plan is just tinkering at the edges of environmental disaster—its measures are simply not enough. If we are going to stand a chance of slowing climate change and preserving what’s left of the Great Barrier Reef, we have to stop funding the fossil fuel industry and transition to clean, renewable energy as fast as possible.
“The Turnbull government propping up coal, oil and gas through fossil fuel subsidies is at the heart of this problem. And its support for a $1bn loan of public money from the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF) is a final slap in the face to Australians watching the slow death of a national icon.
“It’s time we ended polluter hand-outs across the board. We should start by ruling out any taxpayer funding for a new coal megamine in the Galilee Basin," Dr Casule said.
Currently the Australian Government funds climate change with over $11 billion worth of tax breaks alone to big polluters per year [1] and there is a proposal before the NAIF board for a $1bn loan to the Carmichael coal mega mine.
“Fossil fuel subsidies have been described by the Bloomberg Editorial Board as ‘the world’s dumbest policy’[2] for a very good reason,” Dr Casule said.
“They allow fossil fuel producers to undermine national climate commitments, while we pay them for the privilege. It’s perverse corporate welfare that only encourages more carbon pollution and holds back the clean energy revolution Australia should be leading.
“Pouring public money into fossil fuels also diverts tax dollars from critical public services such as education and health.
“The Great Barrier Reef is Australia’s greatest natural wonder. As the rest of the world looks on in horror at the tragedy unfolding on the Reef, Malcolm Turnbull is doing his best to pour billions of dollars into fossil fuels. This is Australia’s national shame.
“Real climate leadership from Malcolm Turnbull is no longer an option—it’s a requirement. Australia must stop pouring money into fossil fuels, ban new coal mines, and exert every effort to catch up with other countries making progress on climate action," said Dr Casule.
For interviews contact:
Rachael Vincent, Media Campaigner rachael.vincent@greenpeace.org 0413 993 316
Notes
1. ‘How your taxes subsidise fossil fuels, Market Forces, http://www.marketforces.org.au/ffs/tax/
2. 'Fuel Subsidies Are the World's Dumbest Policy,' Bloomberg Editorial Board, 1 September 2016
https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2016-09-01/fossil-fuel-subsidies-are-the-world-s-dumbest-policy-editorial