A " Hotter " Planet !

When the first fleet arrived in 1788 one of the first things sought was coal.   Without that mineral the blacksmith could not apply his trade and such a source of energy was vitally important to the new colony.  Fortunately the problem was solved early when a group of sailors became shipwrecked on the  south coast.

They wisely surmised that if they followed the coast they would arrive safely in Sydney and on the way they discovered a seam of coal sticking out of a cliff at a point they named " Coalcliff ".  Initially, this was mined and supplied to Sydney by small boats but eventually it resulted in the railway linking Sydney and Wollongong.

From that humble beginning, Australia has developed a massive coal export industry.   It is Australian coal that keeps the lights on in China, Japan and India and consequently we are indirectly responsible for the buildup of  carbon dioxide that is causing global warming.   At a time when global warming is becoming critical, we are opening new mines and expanding the amount of " black gold " we are sending oversea

A warmer planet means rising sea levels and many of our Pacific ocean neighbours will lose their land mass to the sea.   They implore us to save their homes by cutting back on coal exports but unfortunately that can only be done by a substantial impact on our standard of living.   Coal mining delivers many well paid jobs for the Australian workforce and is an important contributor to our economy.

We defend our reliance on coal exports by claiming that the Australian contribution would be quickly replaced by exports from other countries if we ceased exports.   It is true that coal is mined widely throughout the world, but here in Australia it is near the surface and can be mined economically.  Those new mines due to come on stream will grossly expand the volume of Australian coal that is adding to carbon problem.

The attitude of the Australian population is quixotic. Those near coal mining centres are enthusiastic for the jobs and income mining will deliver and the attitude of those further away swings behind the ecology factor.   The " Global warming is crap " sentiment is fading as temperature records are broken and it becomes evident that we are living on a hotter planet.

The market for coal is about to change dramatically.  China is in a deepening tariff war with America and this may lower their energy needs, but at the same time India seems likely to take up the world manufacturing slack as it power grid expands.   That expanding Indian coal market could deliver an extra four thousand well paid Australian mining jobs and put another $ 3.4 billion into the Australian economy.

It looks like we will become a pariah to our little Pacific neighbours as we ignore their plight and cater to our economic advantage.   What is becoming abundantly clear is that despite all the promises and lip service no real effort is being undertaken to halt global warming.   We are rapidly passing the point of no return and the world will have to learn to live with a hotter planet.

When push comes to shove all the major countries that are polluting the world are too scared of the backlash from their citizens if they did implement the measures that would hold world temperature to a 1.5 degree increase.     Any change in that situation seems unlikely  !