In a world beset with climate change, calls to phase out fossil fuels have become rampant.
Over the past 30 years, the world has pinned its hopes on international treaties, particularly the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris accords, to curtail global warming.
However, the race to save the planet is being impeded by a global economy as these treaties do not include mechanisms for holding states accountable to their commitments, and despite some progress, greenhouse-gas emissions have continued to rise and climate breakdown is accelerating.
Australia is set to unveil a strategy to maximise its extraction and use of gas “until 2050 and beyond,” despite global calls to phase out fossil fuels.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s government said that the move is needed to shore up domestic energy supply while supporting a transition to net zero.
The government’s new future gas strategy was set on gas remaining affordable for Australians throughout the transition to net zero, and Australia remaining “a reliable trading partner for energy, including LNG [liquefied natural gas] and low emission gases”.
It said that new sources of gas supply would be needed to meet demand during the transition and that reliable gas supply would “gradually and inevitably” shift towards supporting areas where that were of higher value or where there was not a substitute for gas.
It’s understandable that Australia is prioritizing domestic energy security and economic stability, especially during a transition period towards net zero emissions.
However, the strategy should also include robust measures to accelerate investment in renewable energy and low-emission technologies.
While gas may play a role in the short to medium term, doubling down on fossil fuel extraction could undermine Australia’s long-term sustainability goals and exacerbate climate change impacts.
The Resources Minister, Madeleine King said that the strategy makes it clear that gas will remain an important source of energy through to 2050 and beyond, and its uses will change as we improve industrial energy efficiency, firm renewables, and reduce emissions.
“But it is clear we will need continued exploration, investment and development in the sector to support the path to net zero for Australia and for our export partners, and to avoid a shortfall in gas supplies,” she added.
“The energy transformation will take time – it will take investment in renewables, new industry processes, new technologies,” she said.
“Turning off gas overnight would do untold damage to our economy, impede efforts to get to net zero here and have a severe impact on our region, which is the fastest growing in the world.”
Madeleine King
The government’s emphasis on gas affordability and reliability overlooks the urgent need to transition towards cleaner, renewable energy sources.
By prioritizing fossil fuels over sustainable alternatives, Australia risks perpetuating its dependence on carbon-intensive energy and delaying progress towards a greener future.
Ignoring the imperative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in favor of short-term economic gains not only neglects Australia’s responsibility to combat global warming but also threatens the well-being of future generations.
While a gradual transition away from gas may be necessary, it must be accompanied by ambitious investments in renewable energy infrastructure and innovation.
The Answer Lies In Renewable Energy
Chair of the Nurrdalinji Aboriginal Corporation, Djingili Elder Samuel Sandy, said, “We don’t need new gas which involves drilling into our land in the Northern Territory and damaging our country, culture and water.”
“We want new, renewable energy. The answer is not gas but solar, which can power our communities from the sun. This is where we want governments to concentrate. That way, we can have a better future together.”
Samuel Sandy
Labor MP Josh Burns stated “not a cent of public money” should be spent on new gas projects that don’t assist with the transition to a low-emissions economy.
In a statement posted to X, Burns said, “We need to continue to move towards low emission technology, not prolong fossil fuels.”
“There’s so much more to do and Australia needs real, feasible policies to take climate action seriously,” he added.
Another Labor MP, Jerome Laxale, “I believe that we need to be moving away from fossil fuels, not championing them.”
Independent MP Kylea Tink noted that continued and expanded fossil fuel use is out of step with global climate goals and risks hindering the transition to renewable energy.
“Locking in gas for decades and encouraging the use of CCS is not a pathway to a sustainable future. This looks like ‘gas-fired recovery’ 2.0, reinforcing just how beholden to the gas industry our major political parties are.
“One thing is clear. Opening up new fossil fuel projects will not help tackle climate change. We need to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels towards cheaper, cleaner renewable sources of energy. Not open up new gas fields.”
Kylea Tink
To truly confront the climate crisis, the government must prioritize renewable energy solutions and commit to phasing out fossil fuels in line with global efforts to limit global warming.
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