Senior Climate Campaigner Nic Clyde said: “Greenpeace applauds the peaceful action taken today to protest against coal being exported from Australia’s newest coal mine, at a time when a carbon-free world was being discussed in Lima, with 50 countries agreeing to a total phase out of carbon emissions by 2050.
“With our politicians failing our climate and our community, it’s increasingly up to ordinary citizens to urgently and directly intervene.
“The rapid transition away from dirty energy to prevent dangerous climate change will not be achieved by opening new coal mines. The community understands this and is demonstrating a willingness to act.
“First coal from Maules Creek has been delayed by at least 18 months (1) and community protest has played a significant part in frustrating the project.
The Maules Creek project has experienced substantial delays as a result of legal and regulatory challenges to a proposal to mine in what the NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet has described as “irreplaceable, ecologically unique” forest.
Over the last three years, 80 per cent of shareholder value (approximately $4 billion) has been lost as a result of the structural decline of coal, renewed global action on climate change, and fierce community opposition to new coal mines (2).
“The doggedness of the coal company to drive the project, with the support of the NSW government, despite the economic and environmental realities, is crazy,” Mr Clyde said.
The citizens arrested today join approximately 290 others arrested as part of the community campaign against the Maules Creek mine. Recent arrests include David Pocock, former Captain of the Wallabies and Professor Colin Butler, contributor to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
Contact: Alison Orme, Greenpeace Australia - 0432 332 104
Images available from 350.org
Notes
(1) In March 2012, Aston Resources announced in a Scheme Booklet to investors that it expected “Maules Creek will be commissioned and first coal production will commence in mid calendar year 2013”. In Whitehaven Coal’s August 2012 Annual Report, the company announced that: “first coal is expected in the first quarter of calendar year 2014”.
(2) The market wiped 80% off the value of the share price, down from $5.62 on 12 December 2011 when Whitehaven acquired rights to develop Maules Creek, to close at $1.15 on Friday 12 December 2014.