Coal’s servant, P.M. Morrison makes Australia an international pariah at UN Climate Summit
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PM accused of ‘trashing’ Australia’s reputation by spruiking coal ahead of UN summit, SMH, By Dana McCauley September 22, 2019 Environmentalists are accusing Scott Morrison of “trashing” Australia’s international reputation, as official documents reveal the broad scale of his government’s efforts to significantly increase coal exports at a time of mass protests calling for action on climate change.
As delegates of the United Nations climate change summit – which Mr Morrison has snubbed – prepare to discuss emission reduction efforts this week, briefing notes obtained under Freedom of Information laws detail the emphasis placed on coal in the government’s diplomatic relations.
Departmental briefing notes provided to Resources Minister Matt Canavan ahead of his official visit to Singapore and India last month canvass the potential to expand Australia’s coal exports into Bangladesh – a nation that is among the most vulnerable to the effects of global warning. The government is seeking to grow its coal exports in overseas markets as it looks to buttress the economic fallout from a deteriorating relationship with China. Australian Conservation Foundation climate change campaigner Christian Slattery said Australia was “trashing its international reputation because of its addiction to polluting coal”. “As major importers of Australian coal move to transition to cleaner forms of energy, the Morrison government is doing the coal industry’s bidding, trying to secure new markets,” Mr Slattery said. “Burning coal is the number-one cause of climate damage. Unless we stop digging up and burning coal the planet will suffer unmanageable damage from more extreme fires, droughts, storms and coral bleaching that will harm hundreds of millions of people.” The briefing note to Senator Canavan, released in redacted form to the ACF, said that with “a significant expansion of coal-fired power in Bangladesh expected in the near future”, there were opportunities for Australia “to establish a new export market for thermal coal”…….. Foreign Minister Marise Payne will front the UN climate change summit this week, but will not address delegates – as Australia is among a group of coal-supporting economies singled out as not getting a spot on the list of 63 speakers. Mr Morrison’s snub comes despite him being in the United States on an official visit…….. ACF’s Mr Slattery said the government “seems intent on selling a 20th century technology to a 21st century world and doing a great deal more climate damage while they are at it”. “Australia’s reported blocking by the UN Secretary-General from speaking at the special climate summit in New York is nothing short of an international embarrassment for a wealthy and developed country that prides itself on being a good international citizen,” he said. https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/pm-accused-of-trashing-australia-s-reputation-by-spruiking-coal-ahead-of-un-summit-20190922-p52tr1.html |
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