COP26-Australia: Country to continue selling coal for ‘decades’

Australia has said it will continue to sell coal for “decades” after rejecting an agreement aimed at phasing out this polluting fossil fuel to curb climate change.

About 40 countries pledged to give up coal in the coming decades during the UN Climate Conference (COP26) in Glasgow.

Australia, like many other high-carbon countries, such as China and the United States, did not sign the agreement.

“We have made it very clear that we will not close our coal mines or our coal-fired power plants,” Australian Resources Secretary Keith Pitt told ABC television.

Defending the Canberra position, Pete assured that Australia has the best quality of coal in the world.

“And that’s why we will continue to have sales in the coming decades. And they buy (…) well, we sell,” he added.

The demand for coal is expected to increase by 2030, the Australian minister estimated. “If we do not win this market, someone else will win it,” he added.

“I would prefer it to be an Australian high-tech product, which would provide jobs in Australia and support the Australian economy, instead of (coal) from Indonesia, Russia or elsewhere,” Pete said.

Australia, one of the world’s largest producers of coal and gas, has experienced extreme weather events in recent years – droughts, fires, floods – exacerbated by climate change.

The government of Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced in October its goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. The Australian government’s plans have drawn criticism for their lack of clarity and for being based on as yet unknown technological innovations.

The Minerals Council of Australia, which represents large mining groups such as BHP and Rio Tinto, estimated that the 2050 target could be achieved if large technological investments were made. At the same time, the big Australian groups assure that they are moving away from the most polluting fossil fuels.

Source: AMPE