More fossil fuel gas no solution for climate or energy

Climate advocacy organisation Solutions for Climate Australia has slammed the federal Liberal-National party for announcing they wanted to spend taxpayer money to expand and imbed the use of expensive fossil fuel gas in electricity production.

‘The mining and burning of gas produces huge volumes of climate pollution. We need to systematically phase it out of use,’ said Dr Barry Traill, Director, Solutions for Climate Australia.

‘Gas is also hugely expensive – it’s the most expensive source of electricity in Australia. It is appalling that the Federal Liberal-Nationals have announced today that they want to subsidise more gas long term by including it in the existing “Capacity Investment Scheme”.

‘This policy was created to support clean solutions to back up clean, renewable power from solar and wind, the cheapest ways to produce electricity,’ he said.

Australia can’t afford more gas

Dr Traill says gas is expensive in more ways than one – it is also making climate change worse, directly threatening the lives and livelihoods of Australians and people globally.

‘Because of climate change we are approaching yet another summer at increasing risk from extreme weather- floods, cyclones and fire.,’ he said.

‘It is extraordinary that the federal Coalition is doubling down on attacking clean power, and subsidising more fossil fuels. Cheaper clean renewables are now providing more than 40 per cent of national electricity, and this is increasing by the week.

‘The Capacity Investment Scheme is in place and working to support new batteries, pumped hydro and other clean approaches that provide firming capacity to back up solar and wind.’

‘We call on the federal Coalition, to follow the lead of most of their state LNP counterparts to actually have a policy on climate to reduce climate pollution and the risks to us all,’ said Dr Traill.