The Australian Conservation Foundation has released a report titled . It reveals that these 10 polluters — and it’s no surprise that most are electricity suppliers - are responsible for generating nearly one-third of greenhouse gases through their production and use of energy.
In 2013-14, these companies reported emissions of 158 million tonnes (Mt) of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-e) gases, which was 29% of Australia’s total greenhouse gas pollution, of 550 Mt CO2-e.
Seven of the 10 polluters are electricity suppliers and three are mining companies. Many of them rely on out-dated and polluting technologies as they put their companies’ profits before the climate.
Publicly these climate polluters say they accept climate change and are doing their best to reduce pollution, but at the same time they have opposed initiatives to reduce carbon pollution, such as the Renewable Energy Target.
Not surprisingly, the federal government’s woefully inadequate energy and climate policies align closely with these rich polluters. The government had abandoned the carbon tax and is now undermining the Renewable Energy Target. Its target to cut carbon pollution is a pathetic 5% on 2000 levels by 2020.
You would think from the government’s attitude that Australia had nothing to fear from climate change. But in fact, Australia is likely to suffer more than other countries from its impact. Climate change is already leading to more frequent, more intense droughts, bushfires, heatwaves, cyclones and other extreme weather. The number of very hot days has doubled in the last 50 years. Hot weather in Adelaide, Melbourne and Canberra has already reached levels previously predicted to not occur until 2030. The impact of climate change will clearly be significant.
To seriously cut carbon pollution we need to transition energy production away from polluting sources such as coal to clean alternatives, such as wind, wave and solar. We must start retiring the most polluting and technologically obsolete coal-fired power stations and replace them with clean energy. Clean energy alternatives are ready and available.
The federal government should stop paying these big polluters to pollute. Mining and gas companies receive fuel tax credits and accelerated depreciation allowances that lower their taxable revenue, making it cheaper for them to continue polluting than to transition to cleaner energy.
Many studies have shown how Australia could produce all its energy needs using renewable energy. , for example, has predicted a mix of 46% wind, 22% concentrated solar thermal, 20% photovoltaic solar and 6% each of biofuelled gas turbines and hydro could provide 100% of Australia’s energy needs by 2030.
The switch to renewable energy would create whole new industries and jobs, many in regional areas with high rates of unemployment. Australia has the land and the expertise to become a world leader in renewable technology. However, while these polluting companies continue to receive handouts from the government and return the favour with political donations, that change is unlikely to occur.
1. Energy Australia Electricity supply 20.826mt CO2
2. Macquarie Generation Electricity supply 20.373mt CO2
3. AGL Energy Electricity Supply 19.928mt CO2
4. Rio Tinto Metal Ore Mining 18.098mt CO2
5. GDF Suez Australian Energy Electricity Supply 17.605mt CO2
6. Stanwell Corporation Electricity Supply 14.651mt CO2
7. Alcoa Australian Holdings Aluminium Smelting 14.242mt CO2
8. Origin Energy Electricity Supply 12.406mt CO2
9. CS Energy Electricity Supply 10.110mt CO2
10. Woodside Petroleum Oil and Gas Extraction 10.058mt CO2
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