Australia Prioritizes fossil Gas Expansion Amidst Record Heatwave, Raising Climate Concerns
Sydney, Australia – As Australia grapples with a sweltering heatwave and faces increasingly dire climate predictions, the nation is together doubling down on fossil gas progress, a move experts warn risks locking in further emissions and hindering the transition to renewable energy. The continued push for gas,coupled with reliance on unproven carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology,is drawing criticism as a counterproductive strategy in the face of escalating global temperatures.
The debate centers on Indonesia’s potential reliance on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG),with Australia and Japan actively marketing their fossil gas resources as a solution,often paired with the promise of CCS.Though,climate scientists argue this approach is economically unsound and environmentally damaging,notably as the cost of renewable energy and storage solutions continues to decline. This comes as Australia experiences weather patterns indicative of a rapidly changing climate, with summers arriving earlier and lasting longer.
The core issue, according to Bill Hare, chief executive of Climate Analytics, is the failure of CCS technology. “It is indeed costly, complex and unreliable,” Hare states. “It doesn’t work to get emissions to real zero… the rate of emissions capture is usually much lower than industry claims; the cost is very high, compared with clean alternatives, and is unlikely to reduce in cost over time.” He argues that investing in fossil fuels and attempting to bury emissions is illogical when renewable alternatives are becoming increasingly cheaper and readily available, with a fuel source that is “both infinite and free.” Furthermore, he highlights the long-term liability governments would assume for storing captured carbon for centuries.
Australia possesses significant potential to become a leader in the global energy transition, Hare emphasizes, citing its abundant critical minerals, capacity for green hydrogen export, and vast renewable energy resources – particularly solar and wind. However,realizing this potential requires a decisive shift away from fossil fuels.
“But first we need to take our foot off the gas,” Hare concludes.
