Richard Denniss, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University
Australia continues to support unlimited growth in fossil fuel production and export, flying in the face of the latest IPCC report. Mapped: 67 new coal, and 49 gas/oil projects.
The people of the Hunter have a clear picture of the future they want. But to unlock the region’s future opportunities, we must first clean up the costly legacy of its coal-mining past.
The Nationals have long promoted coal for regional development and politics. But new leader David Littleproud could seize the moment and refocus the regional party.
Quirks of our geology made Australia unusually abundant in coal. But as the world goes green, we can switch to vital clean mineral resources so coalminers aren’t left behind.
Three ‘just transition’ priorities identified by the coal-mining communities of the Hunter Valley in NSW hold lessons for the rest of Australia, and the world.
Frank Jotzo, Australian National University and Mark Howden, Australian National University
The world is moving away fossil fuels, and there’s nothing Australia can do about it. Racing to dig up and sell whatever fossil fuels we can before the timer stops is not a future-proof strategy.
Richard Denniss, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University
Among modern Liberals it’s patently heresy to ask how rushing to green light 11 proposed coal mines in the Hunter Valley helps the struggling coal industry.
Queenslanders head to the polls tomorrow. The Palaszczuk Labor government has vocally backed the resources industry – but our research suggests the issue will not decide the election result.
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.
South Africa envisages the gradual closure of older coal plants, mostly located in Mpumalanga. Can these coal fields be turned into renewable energy hubs?
The Mapungubwe Golden Rhino is believed to have been made between 1220 and 1290.
Stefan Heunis/AFP/Getty Images)