Living up to its name as one of the "Filthy Three" nations
trying to block action on climate change, Australia is playing
dirty tricks trying to get Thailand and other developing countries
locked into a future based on greenhouse-polluting coal energy,
according to the report "Citizen Coal", launched today in
Thailand.
The report, by Greenpeace and the Mineral Policy Institute,
available in both Thai and English, examines Australia's coal
exports to developing Asian countries. It shows how Australia is
locking developing countries into an energy future dependent on
coal, one of the most greenhouse-intensive fossil fuels. At the
same time, Australia refuses to ratify the Kyoto Protocol and uses
the excuse that its not fair for Australia to sign up when its
Asian neighbours do not have targets to control emissions.
Thailand's cabinet announced this week that it would ratify the
Kyoto Protocol.
"Australia is hooked on coal and now it is pushing its habit on
its developing neighbours," said Frances MacGuire, Greenpeace
Climate Campaigner speaking in Thailand. "In Australia 90% of
electricity comes from coal, one of the reasons why Australia
produces the most greenhouse pollution per person in the developed
world."
"It's pure hypocrisy that Australia won't ratify the Kyoto
Protocol but meanwhile wants to lock Thailand into a future reliant
on fossil fuels, regardless of the damage it will do to local
people's livelihoods and the climate. Instead of dumping dirty
fossil fuels on Thailand, Australia should be exporting clean
energy technologies such as wind and solar."
"Citizen Coal" also examines the role of international financial
and aid bodies, such as the World Bank, the Asia Development Bank
and the Australian Agency for International Development, which have
all supported fossil fuel power projects in Asia.
Residents of Ban Krut, where foreign companies are proposing to
build a 1400 Megawatt coal-fired power station which would be
powered with Australian coal, have campaigned against the project
since it was first proposed eight years ago. Today, with the help
of Greenpeace Southeast Asia and an international crew from the
Arctic Sunrise, residents began the installation of a wind turbine,
to generate clean sustainable energy for street lamps. Greenpeace
also flew a banner from a para-sailer reading "Clean Energy Starts
Here."
Greenpeace is calling on the Thai government to reject the two
plants, which have been delayed a further two years, and instead
adopt a national policy to support sustainable, clean energy.
"Thailand has the chance now to go down the path of clean
electricity - without relying on fossil fuels," said Greenpeace
Southeast Asia climate campaigner Penrapee Noparumpa. "We do not
need more power stations in Thailand. Research show that we could
get 35% of our electricity from renewable sources by 2020, even if
current consumption doubles. Thailand needs clean energy now."
Greenpeace is calling on governments at the Earth Summit to make
a commitment to provide affordable renewable energy to the two
billion people around the world who live without electricity, to
phase out all subsidies to fossil and nuclear fuels, and to ensure
that 10% of energy is provided by renewable resources by 2010.
Greenpeace is also seeking a commitment that international
financial institutions move 20% of their energy investments to
clean, renewable energy.
The
"Citizen Coal" report and wind turbine installation are part of
the Greenpeace Choose Positive Energy tour of South East Asia with
the ship MV Arctic Sunrise. Throughout the tour, the ship's crew,
the staff from the Greenpeace office of Southeast Asia and other
Greenpeace offices have worked with local communities in Thailand
and the Philippines to fight the development of dirty, polluting
energy and promote clean renewable energy.
VVPR info: Pictures will be available on request from John Novis in Amsterdam on +31 20524 9580 or Steve Morgan in Johannesburg on +27 828 58 3449. Visit http://www.greenpeacesoutheastasia.org