22. Exporting GHG emissions

An interesting article appeared in The Age today that had also been published on The Conversation recently about the use of coal in Australia and more importantly the export of coal and the associated GHG emissions. A few quotes sum up the key points ...

Australia's domestic emissions represent ''only'' 1.5 per cent of the global total. Yet this makes us the world's 16th largest national contributor to global warming.

Australia is the world's largest coal exporter. If emissions from Australia's exported coal are added to its domestic emissions, our carbon footprint trebles. Our coal exports contribute at least another 3.3 per cent of global emissions. 

In aggregate, considering coal exports, Australia is now the source of at least 4.8 per cent of global emissions. Our carbon footprint is the world's 9th largest.

By 2020, our coal export boom — based on ''locked in'' projects alone — will make Australia's carbon footprint the world's 6th largest, after China, the US, Russia, India and Indonesia. 

Our mitigation efforts are swamped by our exports. We are a growing super-contributor to climate change: our responsibility is of global proportions.

And this is where the challenge lies for Australia. In order to make deep cuts in GHG emissions, the coal industry will need to be phased-out. This is both our domestic use and exported coal. The article ends with a clear-cut picture of the future ...

Ultimately, change will be forced upon us whether or not we like it or are prepared. We can choose a rapid, planned scale-down in coal exports now. Or we can continue to boost our coal export sector and then allow market forces and climate change to combine in a perfect storm.