New research released by environmental group Greenpeace shows that Australian coal is continuing to increase its impact on global climate change.

 

The report shows that by allowing coal mining to proceed unabated in the Galilee Basin, Queensland stands to produce 700 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions this year, with nine mines making the area the seventh largest CO2 emitter in the world.

 

The Federal Greens said the research highlights a need to change the direction of the Government’s energy mix.

 

"We cannot keep burning polluting coal and expect our planet to be healthy for our children. How can we take the Government seriously when the emissions reductions planned in the clean energy package will be dwarfed by the emissions these mines will produce?" Australian Greens leader, Senator Christine Milne, said.

 

"The coal rush is also economically extremely short-sighted. Why invest billions of dollars in coal export infrastructure when the major target markets, China and India, are projecting industrial scale solar power to out-compete coal by the end of this decade.

 

“When our entire economy suffers from falls in commodity prices, it's clear we cannot put all our eggs in one basket. We must invest in the clean energy that will power the 21st century. “

 

The report can be found here