TOM ARUP January 23, 2013 THE forecast expansion of Australian
coal mining and exports would be the world's second largest
contributor of new carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels if
fully realised, research by Greenpeace International has found.
An analysis of the planet's 14 largest proposed, coal, oil and
gas developments - to be released on Wednesday by Greenpeace -
finds if Australian coal production expands as projected, the
mining, production and burning of the extra resource would, by
2020, result in 759 million tonnes of new global carbon dioxide
emissions a year over 2011 levels. But emissions from Australian
coal growth would be eclipsed by proposed coal production in
western China, projected to result in 1400 million tonnes of
annual CO2 emissions by 2020. Greenpeace says development of the
14 fossil fuel projects would put significant pressure on the
world's ability to meet a target, agreed to by nations through
the United Nations, to limit global warming to a global average
of two degrees.