NSW Election, March 24 – Make some demands.

There's an election on in NSW this month, and the major parties are both telling us that they are doing what it takes to tackle climate change. So, since coal exports from Newcastle are our state's biggest contribution to climate change*, that must mean that the major parties have a plan to cut back coal exports, right?

Wrong. In fact, they want to double Newcastle coal exports.

At the moment, Newcastle exports over 80 million tonnes of coal per year. Recent extensions have lifted capacity to over 100 million tonnes per year. Now, two separate projects are awaiting a decision from the NSW Government - the proposed expansion of the Kooragang Coal Terminal, and the proposed construction of a new Coal Export Terminal next door.

Together, these two projects would lift the coal export capacity of Newcastle to 211 million tonnes per year. At that level, the greenhouse emissions from Newcastle coal exports would rival the emissions from every single source within Australia's borders**. Every coal plant, every steel mill, every vehicle, every land clearing operation. It would all be near-eclipsed by the impact of just one harbour.

Scientists tell us that global greenhouse pollution, and therefore fossil fuel use, must be reduced radically starting now, if the world is to avoid the most devastating impacts of climate change. We don't have time to wait around for technologies that may never exist – like burying the pollution from coal deep underground. The present policies of both the NSW Labor Party and the Coalition – to double exports from Newcastle Harbour – would condemn the world to catastrophe. Write to them, and demand that they take real action against climate change, by:

• banning the opening of any new coal mines in NSW

• banning the opening of any new coal export infrastructure in NSW,

• implementing a plan for a just transition away from coal and into sustainable alternatives, for people and communities currently locked into the coal economy.

PLEASE SEND A MESSAGE TO THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE.

This flyer may help you compose your message.

• Morris Iemma - Premier of NSW
• Frank Sartor - Minister for Planning
• Bob Debus - Minister for the Environment
• Peter Debnam - Leader of the Opposition
• Chris Hartcher - Shadow Planning Minister.
• Michael Richardson - Shadow Environment Minister
• Your local member. Find out which electorate you live in here , and who your local member is here .
• And why not send a copy to us? risingtide AT risingtide DOT org DOT au
  

** Australia's domestic emissions from all sources are about 550 Mtpa CO₂-e. 211 million tonnes of coal from Newcastle Harbour would produce 506 Mtpa CO₂-e when burned. Source: Australian Greenhouse Office.