23 December 2010

Lignite Costs the Earth

Interesting to see that while there is some discussion nationally about Solid Energy's plans down here in Southland, there is still nothing in local media ...
Lignite Costs The Earth
MEDIA RELEASE | Coal Action Network
Thursday 9th December 2010 | For Immediate Use

The Coal Action Network today praised the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment (PCE) for exposing the high environmental cost of Solid Energy’s plans to exploit South Island lignite reserves in her new report ‘Lignite and climate change: The high cost of low grade coal.’

“For too long, Solid Energy has used greenwash, contradictory statements and snazzy promotional videos to obscure the reality of what they are planning to do in Southland,” said Coal Action Network spokesperson Frances Mountier. “In her report, the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment has clearly shown how digging up and using South Island lignite would incur a prohibitively high environmental cost.”

“The reality is stark,” continued Ms Mountier. “Solid Energy has managed to lay its paws on 1.5 billion tonnes of lignite reserves.  The PCE’s report states that there are over 6 billion tonnes of economically recoverable lignite deposits in Southland and Otago.[i]  If Solid Energy, L&M and the other companies exploit all 6 billion tonnes, they will be responsible for releasing 8.89 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent into the atmosphere.”[ii]

“It’s not true that New Zealand is too small to make a difference on climate change. We can let these companies go ahead with their plans, and bring the world closer to the tipping point of runaway climate change, or we can stop them in their tracks, and make a major contribution to the stability of the world’s climate.

“We need to keep the coal in the hole,” Ms Mountier concluded. “We need to send the message that the mining companies must abandon their plans to mine and burn Southland lignite.”

6 comments:

Unknown said...

Great post Have posted on Blogger. Happy Christmas.

Regards,

peter

kiwimeg said...

Thanks for spreading the word Peter. Have a great Christmas :)

Tim Jones said...

Thanks for reposting this Coal Action Network press release on your blog, Meg. If you or any of your readers would like to go on the Coal Action Network's email list for announcements and updates, please send an email to coalactionnetwork@gmail.com and I'll be happy to add you. 2011 is going to be a big year!

Paul said...

I really think in order to stop mining we need to draw attention as to why we mine in the first place. If the products we purchase are no longer in demand then there will be no need to mine.

Unknown said...

Thanks for sharing this with the world!


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Anonymous said...

You are so right about the short-sightedness of coal extraction.

The great plains of Southland were to be destroyed and the ongoing effects of the coal utilisation would have added insult to injury.

Solid Energy and the disastrous financial loss they incurred showed the level of incompetence existed at all levels.

Well done my environmental friends but we have plenty of work ahead.