Antinuclear

Fossil fuel economy in decline: climate campaigners are helping Australia’s fuure

How climate campaigners are protecting the economy PAUL GILDING ABC Environment 27 MAY 2013 The climate campaigners holding up new coal mines and coal seam gas projects are inadvertently preventing Australia from rushing headlong into economic collapse.
IRONY DOESN’T GET ANY better than this. Environmentalists and farmers fighting the expansion of coal mining and coal seam gas across
Australia are protecting the economy. If they are successful in slowing down or reversing these sectors in Australia, future governments will be spared an economic mess, Australian workers will have much improved employment prospects and our big banks will be
spared major losses.

That’s because, while not their intention, such campaigns are the only thing likely to moderate the rude economic awakening we face when the global carbon bubble bursts and the fossil fuel industries start their inevitable and terminal decline. While the world economy will be
impacted, Australia is particularly exposed, and with the active support of our governments and financial institutions, coal and gas
companies are doing their best to increase this exposure.

Fortunately for Australia’s economics prospects, these campaigns are
amongst the most strategic and effective ones we’ve seen from the NGO
community for many years. Unlike traditional environmental campaigns
that tend to raise an issue and demand government intervene, these
campaigns are displaying a more sophisticated approach, taking on the
industry with a clear view of how markets work. They recognise that
government will not be an ally in this case, with both major parties
showing overwhelming support for the expansion of Australia’s fossil
fuel dependency. So they are instead going direct to the market,
targeting each development with legal and other delay tactics,
attacking the reputation of lenders and suggesting investors think
again about financial risk……
http://www.abc.net.au/environment/articles/2013/05/27/3765252.htm

May 28, 2013 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | General News