Australia continues to defend its coal industry, despite global warnings of economic devastation from phasing out coal use. Resources and Water Minister Keith Pitt argued that the Australian government, not foreign entities, determines the future of the industry, which ensures thousands of jobs and billions in exports. Pitt claimed that projections of catastrophic coal demise are overstated, and that Australia's coal future extends beyond 2030.
Pitt's stance comes in response to United Nations Special Climate Change Envoy Selwyn Hart, who warned that the world was not acting quickly enough to phase out coal, risking a global climate catastrophe. Hart emphasized the need for a honest, extensive discussion about the best interests of Australia, as continued reliance on coal could have devastating impacts on various sectors of the Australian economy, from agriculture to tourism.
Despite the UN's warnings, Australia remains one of the world's largest coal exporters and has a high per capita CO2 footprint, partly due to its coal industry. The European Commission reported that Australia emits approximately 17 tonnes of CO2 per capita, compared to the global average of less than 5 tonnes. Out of the 176 new coal projects worldwide, 79 are in Australia.
Pitt's comments sparked controversy as Hart also suggested that businesses and investors were increasingly turning to renewable energy sources, which are now often cheaper than coal. Furthermore, Hart pointed out that Australia is preparing for future climate catastrophes, such as droughts, heatwaves, wildfires, and floods, which are becoming increasingly frequent and severe with climate change.
Hart urged nations to embrace decarbonization as a business opportunity, as the world finds itself in a critical moment of the climate crisis.
