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The action was launched from aboard the Greenpeace vessel the Esperanza, which is currently stationed just metres from the coal export terminal.
"Abbot Point epitomizes the hypocrisy of the Rudd Government's climate policy," said Fijian Greenpeace campaigner Lagi Toribau. "As Pacific Island leaders call for the 40-45% emission cuts needed to save their homes, Kevin Rudd is presiding over a massive coal industry expansion while masquerading as a climate hero. He needs to back Pacific calls for concrete action, not try to bully their leaders into submission."
Kevin Rudd has made highly conditional promises to reduce domestic carbon emissions by 5 to 25% by 2020, yet this export coal expansion would cancel out even the most ambitious target six times over. For the 5% reduction, this rises to fifteen times the target.
Financed by more than $328 million of public money in 2009/10, the doubling in size of the coal terminal at Abbott Point alone will result in an extra 67.5 million tonnes of carbon pollution per year. This is equivalent to the annual carbon footprint of 2.4 million Australians.
Abbot Point is only a small part of Australia's largest coal export expansion in decades, which will see total capacity more than double from 332 to 730 million tonnes per year.
"It doesn't matter where this coal is burned, carbon pollution has no borders," said Papua New Guinea activist Sam Moko at Abbot Point. "Climate change is already having a devastating impact on our homes and we need genuine support from our Australian neighbours. Unless emissions are drastically and rapidly reduced, low lying atolls such as Tuvalu will soon be uninhabitable."
Moreover, as a new Greenpeace briefing demonstrates, far from being a boon to Australia, coal is becoming an economic and environmental millstone around our necks. Public support for continued expansion is also in short supply, with a July poll commissioned by Greenpeace showing that 76% of Australians support a cap or reduction of coal exports.
By reinforcing Australia's position as the world's largest coal dealer, Kevin Rudd continues to shun not only his neighbours, but also common sense. Supporting Pacific leaders at the Pacific Island Forum would be a major step in the right direction.
For further information contact:
Communications Officer onboard the Esperanza: James Lorenz 0400 376 021 or +47 5140 7986
Communications Officer at the Pacific Islands Forum in Cairns: Keiller MacDuff 0429 033 411
Campaigner: Lagi Toribau +679 9370 330
Images/Footage:
Abram Powell – AV Coordinator 0409 812 641
http://www.greenpeacemedia.org
Username: photos, Password: green
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