Australia is often referred to as " the lucky country " because of its boundless reserves of minerals. It is one of the worlds biggest exporters of coal and iron ore and about seventy percent of the electicity generated sround the world is produced by burning coal.
Unfortunately, Planet Earth has a rising temperature and that is because of our ever increasiong population burning fossil fuels, and both coal and oil fall into that category. Now the United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres is warning that if we do not mend our ways and produce a cooler Earth catastophe lays ahead.
The ice at both ends of the planet is melting and so are the glaciers that power the great river systems that feed most of the world. We face rising sea levels that will inundate much of the world farming land and submerge many of the island communities around the globe.
It looks like the use of oil is coming under control with the development of the electric car but we also have the answer in sight when it comes to generating electricity by burning coal. The alternatives include wind and solar together with nuclear and thermal, plus hydro electric when water systems can be converted to that task.
The problem is that Australia is one of the few countries that will not agree to a firm schedule of how and when it will reduce its carbon output to meet the world expectation of holding down that temperature rise.We are so reliant for both income and jobs on coal mining and its export that we are actually developing new mines.
It is Australian coal that is keeping the lights on in China, Japan and India and every day ship loads of coal are leaving Australian ports and heading to those destinations. Our lack of clarity has seen our prime minister snubbed and prevented speaking at a world forum to discuss plans for stopping that temperature increase.
We have come under criticism from the small Pacific nations who are in danger of seeing their island communities sink beneath the sea. Many looked to Australia as their natural trading partner, but their allegiance is now turning to China. Australia is seen as a selfish nation that values its economy above that of world safety.
This lack of any action plan is highlighted by the experience in Wollongong. This is a coal mining area and two old mines ceased production and were put on a " care and maintenance " regime several years ago. They have just had their license renewed and are recruiting a well paid work force to recommence coal mining. The last thing we need is new mines adding to that massive coal stockpile.
The government must face reality and commit to a reliable action plan to meet our carbon reduction commitments. Relying on the export of coal is not sustainable and will quickly dstroy our standing with the rest of the world.
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