The latest release of the Albanese Government’s Safeguard Mechanism data reveals increases in greenhouse pollution from many coal mines, contrary to the purpose and promise of reforms passed two years ago.
The Clean Energy Regulator Climate Change Department yesterday released the first year of data following the reforms made by the Albanese Government to Australia’s signature climate change policy for reducing industrial greenhouse gas emissions.
Lock the Gate Alliance says these problems must be fixed to protect Australians from the damage of climate change.
“In some cases, increasing emissions from coal mines are disguised by accounting tricks and unstable offsets from the land sector,” Lock the Gate Alliance head of research and investigations Georgina Woods said.
About half of the emissions covered by the scheme come from the coal and gas industries.
The data revealed that of roughly 100 coal and gas facilities in the Safeguard Mechanism, 70% had reported an increase in their greenhouse pollution emissions since last year, contrary to the intent of the scheme that all facilities would contribute to emissions reductions.
The data (available here) showed:
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A million tonnes of greenhouse pollution from coal mines and coal seam gasfields in Queensland that either started last year, restarted, or entered the scheme such as the wholly new Olive Downs coal mine.
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Ten large coal mines in NSW and Queensland that increased their reported annual emissions by over 100,000 tonnes each, including Hunter Valley Operations in NSW and Carmichael, owned by Adani/Bravus in Queensland.
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The coal mines with increased greenhouse pollution collectively surrendered 1.9 million tonnes of Australian Carbon Credit Units to “offset” their emissions. Seven mines used more than 30% Australian Carbon Credit Units to meet their baseline and had to submit letters explaining why this was the case.
“The Safeguard Mechanism was reformed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from Australia’s most polluting industrial facilities so that Australians might be spared the worst costs of escalating global warming. The data released yesterday shows that coal mines are still increasing their greenhouse pollution, undermining the national interest and putting lives and livelihoods at risk,” said Ms Woods.
“There are persistent loopholes in the Safeguard Mechanism when it comes to coal and gas facilities that undermine Australia’s efforts to prevent worsening harm to the country from climate change.
“The gate is wide open for new coal mines and gasfields to start up, and for existing mines and gasfields to increase their pollution, as many are doing, and there’s nothing to stop them blowing the whole country’s carbon balance out.
“The atmosphere and the climate that is becoming increasingly unstable due primarily to the extraction and burning of fossil fuels isn’t fooled by accounting tricks and loopholes like “offsetting” and emissions averaging. What matters is the harm global warming is doing to Australians. Every company, every facility, every industry in this country do its part to minimise that harm.”
ENDS