Coal and Gas Campaigns

Across Australia, ASEN collectives and individuals are working on transitioning away from Australia’s destructive coal and gas industries – from our reliance on coal-fired power, to new high-risk gas extraction technologies to Australia’s massive coal-exports.

 

Coal is one of the dirtiest, most greenhouse-intensive energy sources. In Australia, 84% of our electricity is sourced from coal, we are the world’s largest coal exporter and the state and federal governments want to expand coal use domestically and internationally.

The NSW Government has approved the doubling of coal exports from Newcastle, which already represent the emissions equivalent of every NSW source of greenhouse gas combined. Similar coal export expansions are underway in QLD, while Victoria entrenches its reliance on ‘brown coal’ for electricity – the filthiest fuel of all. ‘Clean coal’ won’t be commercially viable for at least ten years, but we need to start cutting emissions now to stop climate change.

Campaigns

ASEN members have been involved in many of the campaigns and actions against coal & coal seam gas in Australia. Recently, the Leard Blockade, Pilliga Push camp and Break Free protests in Newcastle have seen ASEN taking strategic direct action in attempts to curb these destructive industries that fuel catastrophic climate change.

 

Some histories of collective campaigns against coal and gas expansion:

UOW Enviro Collective campaigned against the university’s plans to build a tri-generation gas plant on campus (rather than spend the funds on renewable energy). Articles: Illawara Mercury

ANU Enviro Collective successfully campaigned in 2011 for the university to divest $1million from the Coal Seam Gas exploration company Metagasco. Articles: ABC, Kate Ausburn

UQ Enviro Collective ran the ‘Keep CSG Research Clean‘ campaign against the establishment a $20million CSG research centre at their university. It is the largest in Australia, and will be funded by the mining industry providing a PR and legitimisation vehicle for the ongoing environmental and social destruction being wrought by the CSG industry.