12 Feb 2019
The Rising Tide of Climate Lunacy A statement by Viv Forbes, Executive Director of the Saltbush Club A NSW judge has stopped development of the small Rocky Hill coking coal mine because the Commonwealth Government has signed the Paris Climate agreement which requires “rapid and deep reduction in GHG emissions”. Three things are of concern: Firstly, this decision has massive ramifications and must be appealed and overturned. Secondly, Australia must immediately withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement. Thirdly the Judge was so conflicted he should not have heard the case. He was previously Principal Solicitor at the NSW Environmental Defender's Office and has received an award for his environmental activism. If a project can be stopped because it adds to carbon dioxide emissions every development of coal, oil or gas in Australia can be challenged. But the ominous implications go much further. The sports and tourism industries should be fearful. These industries encourage millions of competitors, visitors, tourists, officials and politicians to use cars, trains, buses, planes and ships to burn hydro-carbon fuels purely for entertainment. Car racing is out, as are new cruise terminals, stadiums, resorts, high rise hotels and fireworks. Moreover, any new road, rail or airport development will add emissions and must be stopped along with any expansion of the grazing or timber industries and the brewing of beer. There are some good things – it should mark the end of tax-funded climate jamborees and study tours for politicians – they should stay in their electorates and conduct electronic meetings via their own expensive NBN. But if they can stop the mining of coking coal this will also stop metal smelting, refining and steel making. Naturally Adani can expect even more green law-fare barriers. This decision surely marks the high water mark of climate lunacy.
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