Greenpeace have today leaked details from the IPCC climate report draft that show Australia tried to rewrite the report to promote coal and weaken the report’s conclusions.
The leaks show the Australian Government tried to have sections about phasing out coal removed, saying coal has a future due to carbon capture and storage.
The comments also show the government tried to have Australia removed from the list of leading fossil fuel producers and consumers, despite Australia being the 5th largest producer.
As stated by Greens Leader Adam Bandt MP:
“Scott Morrison has been caught red handed trying to censor the scientists, who are saying we need to get out of coal.
“The world’s scientists are saying very clearly that we need to get out of coal. Instead of listening to them, Scott Morrison is working behind the scenes to doctor the facts.
“Australia has a terrible history at climate conferences of being the handbrake that stops the rest of the world from taking climate action.
“Instead of siding with the USA and the UK, Australia is now aligning with Saudi Arabia, acting like a petro-state and being a mouthpiece for coal on the world’s stage.
“2050 is way too late. If the world doesn’t cut pollution by 2030 we go off a climate cliff, and our kids and grandkids won’t be able to stop runaway global heating.
“Delay is the new denial. Scott Morrison and Barnaby Joyce are trumpeting this grand plan for 2050 that’s based on expanding coal and gas, while at the same time trying to censor the scientists on the real goal of cutting emissions by 2030.”
