Greens Urge Climate Minister to Take Action Against New Coal and Gas Projects in Minority Parliament

The Greens are planning to bypass the Environment Minister in upcoming negotiations. They want the Climate Minister to use existing powers to block new coal and gas mines, which have been a point of contention in Parliament.

In recent years, the Environment Minister has approved over 30 projects linked to coal and gas. Critics point out that emissions have stagnated despite efforts on renewable energy. In fact, data released last week indicates that while some emissions dropped, coal and gas facilities reported a rise in pollution compared to last year.

To put this in perspective, coal mines approved by the Minister could emit 2.5 billion tonnes of pollution. This is over five times Australia’s total annual emissions—a staggering figure that equates to running a typical coal power station for more than 350 years. Some controversial projects, like the recently approved Barossa gas project, only add to the problem with expected emissions of 274 million tonnes.

Experts suggest that the next Australian Parliament may indeed reflect voters’ desires for more decisive climate action following the significant 2022 climate election. During past negotiations, the Greens implemented a pollution cap and granted the Climate Minister significant authority over new projects.

Now, the Greens aim to ensure that the pollution limit for these new coal and gas mines is set to zero, with no option to buy offsets. They have parliamentary advice showing that such powers exist and that some projects already have zero baselines.

Amid the impending elections, the Greens have outlined their key negotiation points: integrating dental care into Medicare, reforming tax policies like negative gearing, halting native forest logging, providing universal early childhood education, and blocking new fossil fuel projects. They argue that these goals are both practical and attainable, emphasizing the need for wealthier individuals and corporations to contribute more in taxes.

Adam Bandt, the leader of the Greens, expressed strong sentiments about the situation. He criticized the Environment Minister’s approval of new coal mines during a climate crisis and highlighted that continued reliance on fossil fuels intensifies the climate emergency. He emphasized the importance of voting for climate action, noting that recent decisions betray the hopes raised by the previous elections.

Senator Mehreen Faruqi added that Australia is facing the direct impacts of the climate crisis. She reinforced the idea that any new coal and gas approvals only put more communities at risk. The science overwhelmingly supports the need to halt any further fossil fuel developments, and she argued that with a stronger Greens representation in Parliament, progressive climate action could be realized.

For further information on climate policies and their impacts, check out the Australian government’s climate resources.

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Climate Change,Greens,Greens Party