(Australia) Centennial Coal massively increased emissions from two mines with no penalty
Source: The Guardian
Centennial Coal massively increased emissions from two mines with no penalty
Miner given permission due to ‘loopholes’ in safeguard mechanism, Australian Conservation Foundation says
Lisa Cox
Sun 6 Oct 2019 04.13 BST
Last modified on Sun 6 Oct 2019 05.25 BST
An Australian mining company was able to massively increase greenhouse gas emissions from two of its coalmines without penalty under a government policy that is meant to limit carbon pollution from large facilities.
Centennial Coal was given permission on three occasions since 2016/17 to increase the greenhouse gas emissions from its Myuna colliery and Mandalong mines in New South Wales, according to data kept by the clean energy regulator.
The increases were approved under the government’s safeguard mechanism, which is supposed to ensure that emissions cuts paid for by taxpayers through its emissions reduction fund – now called the climate solutions fund – are not wiped out by rising emissions elsewhere.
The safeguard mechanism sets pollution limits for large emitters such as mines and power plants.
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The Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF), which analysed emissions data for Centennial Coal published by the clean energy regulator, says flaws in the safeguard policy meant Centennial avoided having to buy about $8.3m in carbon offset credits, or pay an alternative penalty or implement stronger measures to cut their pollution.
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Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/oct/06/centennial-coal-massively-increased-emissions-from-two-mines-with-no-penalty
