MJP2, Such a fine heading for this thread, it would be a crying shame to see it pass into history when it is potentially so useful.
I was reminded of this thread as I read some of the recent posts on HC about global warming and climate change that show that a few fringe dwellers will try to deny the scientific theory from a position that could only be described as zero knowledge.
Beats me how they do it, but there they are, in plain sight.
The fans of fossil fuels such as coal probably deserve their own similarly titled thread, but this one will do for now. They seem happy digging up and exporting thermal coal as fast as possible, ever denying that while it remains a major energy source now, it’s on the way out, to be replaced by other energy sources that don’t emit carbon, like wind and solar.
The change isn’t going to happen overnight but it’s already underway, gathering considerable momentum. You either embrace the change or in due course become something of a fossil, yesterday’s man.
I wish the rapacious greed of Australia’s conservative govts would ensure the change accelerates, but it doesn’t. How could it when we have the current treasurer making a big statement by fingering a lump of coal in parliament and the former treasurer having a lash at wind turbines and wrecking good climate policy like some zombie Don Quixote. Joe is a great leaner.
But the world is changing, and Australia can barely keep up.
Matt Barrie and Craig Tindale outlined what the macro picture is for thermal coal in their recent forensically researched paper Australia’s Economy Is A House Of Cards. If you can get hold of this paper, do. It’s important work.
They said: “Thermal coal, on the other hand, is substantially on the nose, and while usage is still climbing in non-OECD nations, it is already in terminal decline in OECD nations. Recently, in April 2017, the United Kingdom experienced its first day without burning coal for electricity since the industrial revolution in the 1800s.”
“Coal consumption in China has dropped three years in a row, and in January 2017, 100 coal fired power plants were cancelled. China has announced that it is spending a whopping $360 billion on renewables through 2020, and this year is implementing the world’s biggest cap-and-trade carbon market to curb emissions.”
“Blind to the reality of this situation, Australia is ramping up coal production while China commits to ending coal imports in the very near future in what can only be described as a last-ditch “dig it up now, or never” situation.”
“Losing coal as an export will blow a $34 billion dollar per annum hole in the current account, and there’s been no foresight by successive governments to find or encourage modern industries to supplant it.”
Meanwhile, in Lalaland, er Australia, a recent PM was heard to say the science of global warming and climate change was crap. How stupid can denial get.? Since when did stupid become so attractive?
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