Coal producers in Australia have seen a sudden upswing in prices and demand amid an energy crisis. It can’t continue, as China moves to shore up energy independence and cut emissions.
Christian Downie, Australian National University and Llewelyn Hughes, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University
Japan, South Korea and China are all moving away from overseas coal financing. For Australia, the writing is on the wall – the clean energy transition is inevitable.
The Paris Agreement desperately needs to be updated. Currently the big exporters take no responsibility for the emissions created when those fossil fuels are burned overseas.
Many Asian nations are shunning fossil fuels, presenting a huge opportunity for Australia’s renewables sector. And one massive project has stepped up to the plate.
In happier times: Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing in 2018.
Mark Schiefelbein/AAP
Llewelyn Hughes, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University
The Japanese government will retire its fleet of old, inefficient coal-fired generation by 2030. If Japan’s commitment to coal weakens, our exports can expect a big hit.
Some coal workers have the right skills and work in the right location to get a job in renewables. But many, such as semi-skilled machine operators, cannot.
The market reaction to the “ban” was telling, underscoring the problem of being so reliant on a single client.
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The ‘thin green line’ of resistance against any new infrastructure for shipping oil, gas and coal abroad has won many battles. But it faces a new source of pressure: the Trump administration.
Chinese President Xi Jinping may be the only person able to rein in North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
AP Photo/Wong Maye-E, Michael Dinneen
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has said his government’s 2030 climate target will be good for the environment and jobs – and good for protecting the nation’s coal industry.
The latest coal mine approved in Australia is destined for exports.
eyeweed/Flickr
Experts respond to the recently-approved Shenhua Watermark coal mine.
While many people in India live without electricity, it is looking less likely that Australian coal will supply it.
Environmental Change and Security Program/Flickr
“India needs Australian coal” is a view promoted by government and industry alike. But is there really a case for Australian coal in India? The evidence suggests not.
Senior Lecturer in International Relations, Discipline of Politics & International Relations, Macquarie School of Social Sciences, Macquarie University