Greenpeace balloon flies message over coal-fired power stations

The balloon, flown by an experienced hot air balloon pilot, floated above the smoke stacks of the power stations with its urgent call for climate action just days before the deadline for public submissions to the ALP’s much debated Garnaut Review.

Greenpeace climate and energy campaigner Julien Vincent said: "Burning coal is the biggest source of greenhouse emissions in Australia and if we’re going to reduce emissions to safe levels, it will mean the inevitable phase out of coal-fired power stations.

“The Garnaut review will need to lead Australia’s decision makers to the most economically and socially just transition from coal to renewable energy.”

Dr Mark Diesendorf from the University of New South Wales’ Institute for Environmental Studies said:

"Australia’s future is in energy efficiency and renewable energy. There are excellent employment and investment opportunities in implementing these sustainable technologies in Australia now. There should be an immediate ban on new conventional coal-fired power stations and on major refurbishments of these dinosaurs.”

Greenpeace will be making a submission to the Garnaut Review this week.

For images:

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Images available for download from midday:

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Contact:

Louise Clifton, Greenpeace communications, 0438 204041

Julien Vincent, Greenpeace campaigner, 0419 179529

Abram Powell, Greenpeace audio-visuals, 0409 812 641