Australia refuses to abandon coal despite IPCC warning

In response to this report, the country’s deputy prime minister, Michael McCormack, said the nation should “absolutely” continue to use coal.

Coal currently provides 60% of Australia’s electricity, sustains 50 000 jobs and is the nation’s biggest export.

The IPCC report warned that “unprecedented” changes would be required to limit the Earth’s temperature rise to less than 1.5 °C, and predicted catastrophic species loss, as well as extreme weather if this target was exceeded.

According to the IPCC, if the planet undergoes a 2°C rise in temperature, more than 99% of the world’s coral will be wiped out.

McCormack added: “The fact is, coal mining… and coal-fired power plants do play an important part of our energy mix in Australia and will do so going forward.”

Prime minister Scott Morrison said that Australia would not be “held” to the IPCC report, yet would continue its commitment to the Paris Agreement to reduce emissions by 26% from 2005 levels.

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcoal.com/coal/10102018/australia-refuses-to-abandon-coal-despite-ipcc-warning/