Coal is no longer king. The quicker our government accepts that, the better it will be for our planet -- and for the nation’s wallet.
But the coalition is hanging on bad advice: the Finkel review’s clean energy recommendations on coal don’t go nearly far enough to reducing our carbon footprint -- while the coal lobby wants it to ignore the review altogether.
With over one-third of all emissions coming from coal energy, we need a dramatic rethink of our reliance on coal to reach our Paris target of a 26-28% reduction on 2005 levels.
A change in tack would not only cut emissions, but would create jobs and reduce our soaring energy bills. So why the hold up?
The coalition needs to get out of the pocket of Big Coal and take the bold steps needed to meet the terms of the Paris Agreement, reducing the costs for the climate and consumers alike.
Malcolm Turnbull: we want to see a dramatic reduction in our reliance on coal -- put the Paris targets at the centre of Australia’s energy policy!
Australia pledged to reduce its total emissions to 28% on 2005 levels by 2030, during multilateral negotiations in Paris last year.
But those reductions need to be implemented across the entire economy, according to a report from the Climate Change Authority -- not just in the coal-powered electricity sector, as stated by the Finkel review’s clean energy target.
Yet the coalition can’t even agree whether to implement the findings of the review in the first place, with some arguing for coal provisions within the clean energy target, defeating the entire point of the target.
The government’s inability to work together on this is not only embarrassing, but could have devastating consequences.
Individual states fed up with government inaction have indicated they might go it alone at this rate, while General Electric’s head of renewables Jerome Pecresse has urged Turnbull to act, saying Australia risks losing credibility on the world stage.
We can’t let coalition infighting threaten the future of the planet, and let our global partners down in the fight against climate change.
[Movement Story]
At this critical juncture, with the future of the climate and Australia’s energy security at stake, it’s more important than ever we speak truth to power. This is an issue that affects us all.
Malcolm Turnbull: we want a greater reduction in coal thank suggested by the Finkel review -- we can’t let our global partners down in the fight against climate change!
More information
The Guardian. 9 June 2017.
Bloomberg. 20 July 2017.