Brisbane, 10th October: Just days after enough countries signed the Paris climate agreement to bring the treaty into force, the Queensland Government has assigned Adani’s Carmichael coal project the highest level of prioritization as “critical infrastructure” – a move that 350.org Australia says is reckless beyond belief.
“This is a massive slap in the face to any efforts at limiting global warming to safe levels. If this carbon bomb is unleashed it will send a wrecking ball through the Paris climate agreement. Put simply, this mine will make Paris fail, said Moira Williams, 350.org Australia campaigner.
“The Paluszczuk Government was elected with a mandate to protect the Reef and tackle climate change. This move shows that they would rather succumb to the pressure of the fossil fuel industry than keep their promises to the Queensland people. It is a deep and devastating betrayal of trust.
“New research shows that there is already enough carbon in all the existing coal mines and oil and gas wells to lock-in climate catastrophe. The last thing we need is to dig up and burn yet more fossil fuels, like Adani’s Carmichael carbon bomb.
“The Paluszczuk government knows that this coal must stay in the ground if we are to avoid dangerous climate change. But rather than acting in the best interests of the people who elected them, they’re siding with the big polluters to burn through any hope we had at a safe climate future.
“This move shows that the Queensland Government is happy to condemn Australians to a miserable future and put at risk the livelihoods of our Pacific Island neighbours, who have done nothing to cause climate change yet are bearing the ultimate costs of our reckless attachment to coal and gas.
“If the Queensland Government has any fibre of compassion and morality and any economic sense, it will block this climate and Reef wrecker and get on with the vital work of building the 100% renewable future that we all know is needed,” concluded Williams.
Media Enquiries:
Charlie Wood: 0490 436 948
Moira Williams: 0450 944 114