Clean coal is clutching at straws

10 October 2006
Mineral Council clean coal attack plan is clutching at straws

The Mineral Council plan to oppose the Greens NSW election strategy by promoting clean coal shows they have no worthwhile arguments to justify the expansion of the coal industry, Greens MP and mining spokesperson Lee Rhiannon said today.

The Greens will not be deterred by the Mineral Councils attack on our election platform. We will continue to target the coal industry and expose the clean coal con, Ms Rhiannon said.

Coal is the dirtiest of fossil-fuels. If we are serious about tackling climate change we have to call a halt to opening new coal projects.

The clean coal campaign is an attempt to trick the public into thinking that coal has a future. Coal cannot be cleaned. Coal is a lump of car bon and when it is burnt the same amount of carbon dioxide is emitted.

It is possible to limit the emission of sulphur oxide and nitrogen oxide but this will not reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Coal emits 80 percent more carbon per unit of energy than gas and 29 per cent more than oil.

The Greens will use this coming state election to target domestic and ex port coal plans.

The burning of exported black coal is adding to the burden of greenhouse gas emissions. The carbon dioxide emitted by exported coal doubles the emissions that Australia is responsible for.

This has to be factored into any consideration of Australia’s role in contributing to global warming.

As 33 percent of Australia’s on-shore greenhouse gas emissions are caused by coal we should be fast-tracking renewable energy sources.

In attacking the Greens the Mineral Council is simply protecting the coal industry and its dirty technology," Ms Rhiannon said.