Pollution skyrockets - Coal and gas for electricity blamed

Courier Mail
Monday 12/1/2009 Page: 11

GREENHOUSE gas emissions from fossil fuels for transport and electricity in Queensland rose by two million tonnes last year, a report has claimed. But last year's sharp spike in oil prices helped cut petroleum emissions across Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. Rupert Posner, Australian director of charity The Climate Group, which compiled the report, said the paper "clearly demonstrates that our reliance on coal for electricity is our biggest problem when it comes to cutting our greenhouse gas emissions".

On page 2 of The Courier- Mail every Monday readers can track emissions created by Queensland's coal and gas-fired electricity generators and from petroleum use. Published today, The Climate Group's annual report reveals that across Victoria, NSW and Queensland, annual emissions were 3.6 million tonnes higher last year than in 2007 a rise of 1.3% for the year. Compared with 2000 levels, the report said emissions from energy-use were significantly higher across all states, collectively up 19%.

But the increase above equivalent 1990 levels was even higher, with Queensland's emissions more than doubling compared with rises of 30% in NSW and 32% in Victoria. "Most of the increase in emissions in 2008 was from coal-fired generators in Queensland and Victoria, which both produced an extra 1.5 million tonnes each," Mr Posner said. He said Australia needed to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels if emissions were to be cut.

"The Greenhouse Indicator's 2008 results clearly show we all need to start taking action now if we want to reduce our greenhouse pollution," he said. "The window of opportunity open to us to prevent dangerous climate change is becoming smaller but there are lots of things that people can do immediately to start making a difference." Emissions from petroleum, calculated from sales figures in the three eastern states, actually fell by 0.6%. The Climate Group describes itself as an independent not-for- profit coalition of government and business leaders aiming to move to a low emission future.