While there is a near global effort currently being exerted around the world to contain and reduce carbon emissions, the Queensland Government and the coal industry rally to unlock nine new mega coal mines in the Galilee Basin.
This backward step in the journey towards a clean and renewable future doesn’t attract many supporters locally or abroad with Australia’s government having previously been criticized by other nations for our lack of commitment to global warming.
For this new coal industry project, there will be hundreds of railway lines to be constructed, a new 150 MW coal fired power plant will have to be built just to power the mines, and there will also be an expansion of the Abbott Point Coal Terminal, that is located in the Great Barrier Reef that will make it the largest in the world.
Coal Industry receives backlash from Australian public
As an indignant reaction to this project, a growing group of people are preparing to oppose this insane plan.
One – Galilee Basin project will heat up the climate even more
The vast reserves of coal in the Galilee Basin which will be extracted and used if the project is completed, would contribute immensely to the release of about 6% of the world’s carbon budget. This can cause a 2 degree rise in the earth’s temperature.
Two – Coal is its own worst enemy
Burning the coal extracted from the Galilee Basin will exacerbate global warming.
Three – Proposed project will consume huge amounts of water
Running the coal mining operation will require huge amounts of water which would be better used to provide portable water to the teeming population in Queensland for three years.
Four – Mining is insanely expensive and subsidized
The Queensland Government offered to shoulder $300 million to build the infrastructure for the coal industry, while it has slashed funding for social services, saying it does not have enough money for this purpose.
Five – Financial analysts believe that this project is not economically sound
Goldman Sachs and Oxford University financial analysts agree that the Galilee Basin project by Australia’s coal industry is not economically feasible.
Six – Large banks won’t finance Galilee Basin coal industry project
The fact that large banks are not willing to foot the bill for the Abbott Point Coal Terminal is testimony to the project’s lack of financial soundness.
Seven – Galilee Basin project will not contribute to solving energy poverty
According to financial analysts, the coal that will be extracted by Galilee Basin project will cost more than renewable energy alternatives.
Eight – It will destroy some parts of the Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef should continually be protected from environmental disasters for it hosts 1,600 species of fish and 1,400 types of corals. When the coal industry project is fully operational, it will damage if not completely destroy some of its most delicate parts.
Nine – Local wildlife will also be adversely affected
In the construction phase of the project, many animals such as turtles, dugongs and birds as well as their habitats, will be destroyed.
Ten – It is supported by a dubious company
Aside from the Queensland Government, another backer of the development in Queenland is Adani. A company that has been previously accused of illegal construction, bribery, corruption and destroying the environment.
Eleven – Australian citizens don’t support the Galilee Basin project
In an increasingly environmentally-conscious society, the public are aware that this new coal industry project will damage if not destroy one of their national heritages and so of course majority of Australians don’t support further mining.
