From Fairfax:
Backed by green and social action organisations, the 61 eminent persons have signed an open letter featured in full-page advertisements in Fairfax Media newspapers, calling on the host of the December talks, French President Francois Hollande, and Mr Turnbull to oppose new coal developments – including the Carmichael mine in Queensland’s Galilee Basin.
The signatories, which include erstwhile Australians of the year Professors Fiona Stanley, Peter Doherty and Tim Flannery as well as one time Reserve Bank Governor Bernie Fraser, current Wallabies flanker Pocock and Anglican churchman Bishop George Browning, have called on Mr Turnbull and other world leaders to recognise that it is not just the fossil fuels a country burns for its own energy that matters, but those dug up for export to others.
“We, the undersigned, urge you to put coal exports on the agenda at the 2015 Paris COP21 climate summit and to help the world’s governments negotiate a global moratorium on new coal mines and coal mine expansions, as called for by President Anote Tong of the Republic of Kiribati, and Pacific Island nations,” the 61 say.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, from The Australian:
Malcolm Turnbull faces an internal push to close a loophole used by environmentalists to delay approvals for the Adani coalmine in Queensland amid questions about the handling of the case.
Queensland Nationals senator Matt Canavan wants the government to revisit an amendment to the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act that would limit the ability of environmentalists to challenge approvals based on ministerial consideration of conservation advice.
Senator Canavan will also recall senior officials from the Environment Department to a November 12 estimates hearing as he seeks a further explanation as to why conservation advice on two species was not passed to Minister Greg Hunt, causing a delay in the project after a court challenge by green groups.
Resource Minister Josh Frydencoal has so far been very supportive of the Adani project and I’ve little doubt that if it were up to the government then the project would go ahead. That that would only succeed in closing other more efficient mines given the persistent glut does not seem to concern the minister but in the end that hard truth should still prevent it from going ahead.
