Climate advocate Solutions for Climate Australia expressed deep anger and concern at the expansion of polluting fossil gas proposed by Federal Resources Minister Madeleine King in a ‘Future Gas Strategy’ plan released today.
“Gas is a dirty fossil fuel. It is a massive contributor to climate change. It kills people and damages communities in Australia and globally. Despite this, fossil fuel gas companies - Woodside and Santos - want to lock in polluting gas indefinitely in Australia. It is outrageous that the Federal Minister Madeleine King is trying to back them with the notion that expansion of Australian gas is needed,” said Dr. Barry Traill, Director of Solutions for Climate Australia.
“Minister King’s strategy is based on lies pushed by Woodside, Santos and other gas companies, that gas is a ‘transition fuel’, and that Australia is short of it for our immediate needs. These are ridiculous notions. Dirty fossil fuel gas can’t be a transition fuel for a clean energy economy. And in the short term, as we transition away from coal and gas, we have more than enough supplies of gas for our needs. Australia is the world’s largest exporter of LNG. The problem we have is that Woodside and Santos want to increase exports and not use their current production to supply the Australian market.
“Lastly there is the fantasy in the proposed Gas Strategy that ‘carbon capture and storage’ can be done to take away the climate pollution produced by the gas industry. Despite billions of dollars of government subsidies around the world for decades, it hasn’t worked at any useful scale.
“Of particular concern is linking gas expansion to the Federal Government’s positive plan for clean energy manufacturing - The Future Made in Australia investment - which can turn Australia into a renewable energy powerhouse, and help decarbonise the world. This Future Gas Strategy would bet Australia's future on volatile gas markets, and the fantasy of carbon capture, while continuing Australia’s outsized contribution to global climate pollution. These are not complementary parts of a coherent vision. These are two very different policies, and this Future Gas Strategy would undermine the goals and the credibility of the Future Made in Australia policy.
“The Prime Minister needs to publicly reject Madeleine King’s gas company promotion plans. We need to create an orderly, rapid transition to a clean energy economy using Australia’s extraordinary natural advantages in solar and wind energy,” Dr. Traill said.
ENDS
Contact details:
For interviews:
Dr Barry Traill, Director of Solutions for Climate Australia: 0448 793 334