| Dear Neville –When I stepped down last month we said we’d tell you soon what my next big project would be. Well, here it is.
It is time the world admitted a simple truth: we need to stop building new coal mines.
There is no room for more coal mines in a world economy that is tackling climate change. You may have read recently that the President of Kiribati, President Tong, has called for a global moratorium on all new coal mines and has written to all of the world’s leaders to ask them to support his call.
Put simply, if Australia succeeds in its coal export ambitions, the world will fail in its efforts to tackle global warming. That is why The Australia Institute has launched the No New Coal Mines initiative, including a petition to the President of France asking him to put coal exports on the agenda for Paris.
Back the global moratorium on new coal mines, add your name to the petition.
Today I am heading off to London to ensure that the world understands the scale and significance of Australia’s coal export ambitions; and that our Prime Minister believes that Australia’s ‘contribution’ to tackling climate change involves building enormous new coal mines.
Next Wednesday I will be presenting the research that backs up the call for no new coal mines at Sir Nicholas Stern’s research centre, The Grantham Institute, at the London School of Economics. On hearing of the call from President Tong, Lord Stern said:
Thanks to supporters like you, The Australia Institute is perfectly placed to help the world understand both the scientific and economic significance of a global moratorium on new coal mines. Our research shows that Adani’s Carmichael mine alone would produce more than 4 billion tonnes of CO2 over the proposed course if its life.
While the scientific case for a moratorium on new coal mines is obvious, the economic case is actually quite startling.
As a supporter of The Australia Institute, you will already be aware of our research showing that the coal industry doesn’t employ many people, doesn’t pay much tax, but does receive billions of dollars in taxpayer-funded subsidies from state and federal governments. Our research also shows preventing new mines from going ahead would be beneficial to the economy.
In the coming months I will be presenting The Australia Institute’s research all around the world. I’ll be helping individuals, organisations, companies and indeed countries understand the need to stop building new coal mines.
A global moratorium on new coal mines makes good climate sense, good economic sense, and good political sense.
Thank you for your support, we literally couldn’t do it without you.
Wish me luck!
Richard
Chief Economist, The Australia Institute
P.S. If you want to stay up to date with my movements and the state of play regarding the moratorium more generally, then head over to our new No New Coal Mines website and add your name.
P.P.S If you know someone in London who’d be interested, send them along to my seminar at The Grantham Institute next Wednesday. |
