WWF-Australia CEO Dermot O’Gorman responded to the Adani announcement yesterday, June 6, saying: “The last thing the Great Barrier Reef needs is another coal mine doomed to fail”.
In the last 18 months, global warming has caused unprecedented back-to-back bleaching events with estimates that about 50% of the Great Barrier Reef’s coral has been lost.
“Carbon pollution from burning coal is the single largest cause of global warming,” Mr O’Gorman said.
“To avoid dangerous levels of global warming, WWF-Australia opposes the development of new thermal coal mines and any form of government investment in new coal mines and the infrastructure associated with them.
“Using tax payers’ money on financially unviable new thermal coal mines is inconsistent with Australia’s commitment to saving our Great Barrier Reef.
“WWF-Australia’s goal of 100% renewable electricity by 2035 calls for the orderly phase-out of fossil fuels, including coal.
“It’s time for politicians to tell regional Queensland communities what is for them the uncomfortable truth – that coal is now more expensive than renewables.
“What is needed is to support these communities with a just transition to new jobs.
“WWF-Australia calls on the federal and state governments to rule out any subsidy or hand out to support the Adani mine or associated infrastructure.
“The Great Barrier Reef is crying out for investment that will help it recover from the impacts of coral bleaching.
“The Australian and Queensland Governments should be investing in actions that protect the Reef, not a new mine doomed to fail, that will hasten the reef’s destruction,” Mr O’Gorman said.
Author
