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Australia’s decision to expand four coal mines has been criticized by island nations as a “death sentence” and a betrayal of global climate promises.
Anthony Albanese’s government on Thursday approved expansions of operations at the Boggabri, Caval Ridge Horse Pit, Lake Vermont Meadowbrook and Vulcan South coal mines.
Analysts said the mine could emit more than 850 million tons of CO2 over its lifetime. This is twice Australia’s annual emissions.
“Put simply, if larger countries continue to launch new fossil fuel projects, this is a death sentence for us,” said Tuvalu Prime Minister Feleti Teo.
This is the seventh coal mine expansion approved by Alba’s government within 90 days. The continued expansion of coal mines comes even as Australia pushes to host the 2026 Cop31 climate summit on behalf of island nations.
“The country plans to co-host COP31, the UN climate talks in 2026, but the continued expansion of coal and gas risks jeopardizing our relationships in the region and Australia’s legitimacy as a climate leader,” said Reverend James Bhagwan, Secretary-General of the Pacific Council of Churches. said: , said.
Joseph Sikulu, Pacific executive director of advocacy group 350.org, accused the Albanian government of hypocrisy, adding that emissions from these projects would be dwarfed by those in the Pacific region.
“This mine will emit 7.5 times more carbon than all Pacific island countries produce in a year,” he said. “This is a mockery of the ‘family’ Australia calls the Pacific.”
Activists in the region’s island nation have accused Australia of betraying them. Rufino Varea, regional director of the Pacific Islands Climate Action Network, said: “While Pacific leaders are calling for climate action and an end to new fossil fuels, the Alvarian government is siding with coal billionaires. “By standing by, we are fueling a crisis that threatens our survival.” “Australia cannot claim to be on the Pacific side while digging our own grave. No new coal means there are no excuses. If Australia refuses to take the lead, they will not be eligible to co-host Cop31.”
This decision also drew sharp criticism from Australian opposition parties. Green Party leader Adam Bandt called it “despicable”, while Senator Sarah Hanson Young described it as “giving coal for Christmas”.
“This is the ultimate in littering on Christmas Eve,” the senator said. “Approving coal mining in koala habitat is abhorrent. “Authorizing more coal mining during a climate crisis should be illegal.”
The government ignored the decision, saying the project was “any expansion of existing operations” mining coal to make steel essential for “homes, bridges, trains, wind farms and solar panels”.
“There are currently no viable renewable alternatives to steel manufacturing,” said Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek. guardian.
independence Comments have been requested from the Australian Department of Climate Change.
The decision was criticized not only by the island nation but also by climate analysts in Australia. Chris Wright, climate strategy advisor at Ember, said the government was putting its own emissions reduction targets at risk.
“The Alba government is struggling towards an emissions cliff and has hit the accelerator by approving a super-emitting coal mine that could become one of the most gas-producing mines in the country by 2030,” he said.
“On the one hand, we are racing to build renewable energy faster per capita than any other country. On the other hand, we are racing to approve more coal mines faster than anyone else.”
According to Ember’s analysis, the Lake Vermont Meadowbrook underground coal mine expansion could emit an additional 3 million tons of CO2 equivalents per year by 2030. This is close to 6% of Australia’s remaining emissions budget by 2030 under the Safeguard Mechanism, Australia’s primary emissions mechanism. decrease.
“The fail-safe mechanisms will no longer survive these super-luminous coal mines, and that is before the coal is shipped overseas and incinerated,” Mr. Wright said.
