Does+a+Warming+Planet+Really+Need+More+Coal?

Australia Debates: Does a Warming Planet Really Need More Coal By Jacqueline Williams Oct. 14, 2017 []



Abbot Point, a land site in Australia, has enough oil that could be mined for decades. The australian government is considering a proposal to build one of the world’s largest coal mines in this place. Despite its ability to bring jobs and coal, this proposition met intense opposition from scientist who questions weather it is wise to build this mine at the expense of climate change. This mine is a test for the world’s commitment to save the world from climate change. This mine has a close proximity to the Great barrier reef, which is dying due to climate change. Polls in australia have shown that the number of people who oppose the mine outnumber those who support it by more than two-to-one. Government officials such as Annastacia Palaszczuk, the premier of queenslander, support the mine because it brings in jobs.
 * Summary:**

Coal is a solid, rocklike fossil fuel; It is made of mostly carbon(Miller 377).Coal provides for 25% of the world’s commercial energy. It is used to generate almost 64% of the world’s electricity.(Miller 378) Despite its usefulness in the world, it is harmful to the environment. Coal mining is dangerous because it can cause lung diseases and cause water pollution. Coal is also the dirtiest fossil fuel to burn because it releases carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, particulates, toxic metals and radioactive elements.(Miller 379)
 * Relation to the course:**

It is unwise to mine massive amounts of coal in the current time at the expense of global warming. Coal is the harmful in many ways, it releases many dangerous gases and toxic elements. There are many new ways of producing energy without Coal. Nuclear and Renewables such as wind, solar and small scale hydro can provide energy as well. But for the issue of providing jobs for the people of Queensland, I would recommend the mine to operate at lowest production possible while hiring the most people possible. Instead of having 10,000 people mining and depleting it all in a short amount of time, the mine should hire less people and output at a slower rate, allowing some to work and causing less of a damage to the envrionment.
 * My Opinion**

The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 is one of Australia's most important environmental regulations. The coal mine is capable of producing as much as 66 million tons of coal a year. Which contributes to the 487 million tons of coal mined annually. This large amount of coal mined and exhausted will cause huge environmental effects. This law enables the Australian government to regulate the mine to provide protection of the environment and preserve the Australian diversity. The act will also disallow any significant impact on any of the matters of environmental significance or other protected matters without approval from the Australian Government Minister for the Environment and Energy (the Minister). [|Australian Government Department of Environment and Energy)]
 * Laws:Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act)**