Posts tagged ‘coal’
Move to end coal in Victoria by 2030
The Greens in the Legislative Council have presented legislation to a second reading to end coal mining, coal burning, and coal to hydrogen processing in Victoria by the end of 2030.
Greens Western Region MP Sarah Mansfield moved the second reading motion of the Energy and Resources Legislation Amendment (Transition Away from Coal) Bill 2023. It will come back for discussion in about 2 weeks time.
In her speech Mansfield acknowledges the Victorian Governments more ambitious climate targets for 2035, which will probably see coal power disappear by that date.
But Mansfield also takes note that brown coal mining could continue as part of coal to hydrogen for export to Japan, with the Government to attempt to sequester emissions in the depleted oil and gas wells in Bass Strait.
(more…)Protest at Peter Khalil ignoring constituents on climate policy
At short notice climate activists set up a protest outside Peter Khalil’s office on Sydney Road on Thursday March 16.
Climate Groups in Merri-bek have accused The Wills Labor MP of failing to consult, engage and listen to local groups and constituents on climate policy, particularly the formulation of the current Safeguard mechanism and use of carbon offsets, along with no proposal by the Labor Federal Government to stop the 113 new coal and gas projects in the development pipeline.
Peter Khalil promised after the last election in May 2022 to establish a climate and environment citizen advisory group for his electorate. We are yet to see any progress on this, despite several interactions asking about progress.
The IPCC 6th assessment reports, the International Energy Agency, and the UN Secretary General have all called for all new coal and gas projects to be stopped. Scientists have highlighted that emissions from present fossil fuels in production are likely to already push us beyond the 1.5C temperature target as laid down in the Paris Agreement in 2015.
The current proposed Safeguard Mechanism that applies to the 215 major polluters, allows for companies to buy 100 percent of carbon credits instead of doing actual point of source emissions reduction. It allows Fossil fuel producers under the scheme to buy offset credits rather than reduce emissions.
(more…)Scientist open letter for no new coal and gas delivered to Wills MP Peter Khalil
On 10 March Climate Action Merribek Convenor John Englart delivered an open letter from scientists and climate experts to Peter Khalil’s office on Sydney Road Coburg.
118 scientists and climate experts have now signed this open letter. Climate Action Merribek signed in support via email on 23 February 2023. Some 50 Civil Society organisations have also signed in support of this open letter.
Peter Khalil has failed to consult, engage and listen to constutents and groups working in the climate space in his electorate of Wills over the proposed Safeguard mechanism. He has long promised to initiate an advisory committee on climate and environment which has failed to come to pass.
(more…)Moreland Council adopts coal filter as part of social sustainability criteria in procurement policy
Moreland Council adopts filter for new coal as part of Procurement Policy
Success tonight on StopAdani. Moreland Council, in its annual review of Council Procurement Policy, passed an amendment to the Council Officer resolution as a part of the social sustainability criteria.
The amendment put forward by Cr Sue Bolton adds:
“Excluding from future contracts, tenders or business dealings any companies involved in developing new coal mines.”
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Just Transition: An Idea Whose Time has Finally Come?
Following the recent federal election, which suggested that the electorate is becoming more polarised about coal, everybody seems to be talking about “just transition”. Colin Long, the Just Transition Officer at Trades Hall, told us he has been inundated with calls. The National Union of Workers kicked off with a statement. The ABC is talking about it. Environment Victoria has released a blogpost, and has made it a focus of their Beyond Coal campaign. And some in Labor are talking about a Green New Deal.
Photo by Marc Kjerland / Flickr
Climate Action Moreland has long argued for just transition to be a key demand of the climate movement. But we need to do more. We can start by fleshing out what this means and how we should incorporate it into our campaigns.
LaTrobe Valley Coal Power pollution poses health threat – World Environment Day
Mercury pollution emissions from Australian coal power stations compared. Source: The Age
June 5 is world environment day and here we publish a question on pollutants from the coal fired power stations in the La Trobe Valley, asked by Brunswick Greens MP Tim Read in March.
Why aren’t these toxic pollutants such as mercury and Sulphur Dioxide more highly regulated and restricted? The technology exists to capture these and other pollutants, but the state government so far hasn’t ensured that the companies responsible fit the filtering technologies which are widely used overseas.
The EPA is currently drafting licence amendments and the licence review process report for the coal power stations. Increased limits, real time monitoring and regulation of pollution needs to be an important part of new licenses for the three energy companies: AGL Energy, Energy Australia, and Alinta.
Liberals win razor thin majority despite surge in voter support for climate action
Here at Climate Action Moreland we were expecting a Shorten Labor government to be elected on May 18. Even though Labor climate policy was very problematic in many areas, the targets were more ambitious (though not nearly enough). We were as shocked by the result of the re-election of a Morrison Government with a slim majority, which was out of step with public opinion polls.
Climate change was one of the big issues of the campaign, with wide concern expressed. This can be seen in The Australia Institute polling which showed that action for climate change was a strong concern, including support for climate emergency action. Read David Spratt’s blog: Support for action surges, majority say we face climate emergency.
The Votecompass survey, encompassing well over half a million citizens found that support had grown to 81 per cent for greater climate action.
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Premier refuses to answer question on Victorian coal phaseout plan
Ellen Sandell asking about coal phaseout plan
The Premier Daniel Andrews failed to answer a direct question on Wednesday, the last sitting day this year for state parliament, on a transition plan to close Victoria’s dirty coal plants and stop coal mining and burning in Victoria for good, asked on behalf of School strike for climate kids.
Greens MP Ellen Sandell (Melbourne) asked the Premier, on behalf of all the students striking for climate justice, when he would urgently release his coal transition plan. She also highlighted that the Andrews government has extended the licence for the dirtiest coal station in Australia, Yallourn.
Premier, while your government has done some really good things on renewables, you are suspiciously silent when it comes to coal. My question is: will you hear the call of these brave young people and urgently release a plan to close Victoria’s dirty coal plants and stop coal mining and burning in Victoria for good?
Instead of answering the question, the Premier diverted his answer into the Victorian Renewable Energy Target of 50 per cent renewables by 2030 (The kids are demanding 100 percent by 2030), the lack of Federal leadership and in particular raising the old history in another parliament of Greens senators opposition to the CPRS scheme.
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Pressure on Bill Shorten over Adani with Sit-Down protest scheduled
March for our future #stopAdani 8/12/2018
With Adani announcing they are proceeding with building the Carmichael coal mine in the Galilee Basin in Queensland last week, snap protests were called in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane and Cairns for Saturday 8th December that attracted thousands. In Melbourne the intersection of Flinders Street and Swanston street was occupied in a sit-down protest for over half an hour.
Stop Adani and climate action groups have called for a sit-down protest at Bill Shorten’s office in Hall street, Moonee Ponds on Wednesday 12 December at 8 AM – 11 AM (Facebook Event)
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Photo Gallery: March for our Future #stopAdani
March for our future #stopAdani 8/12/2018
Snap protests for climate action and to stop Adani were called in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Cairns for Saturday 8th December that attracted thousands of people.
The climate movement has been invigorated by the recent student strikes for climate action on Friday November 30, the occupation of Parliament House foyer, and the urgency of the recent IPCC 1.5C science report. We have a climate emergency.
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Climate Action Merribek: people in Brunswick, Coburg, Fawkner and Glenroy wanting action on climate change 