In anticipation of the fossil fuel spruiking we might hear on @QandA& #39;s energy panel tonight and because there is no representative from the renewable energy sector, perhaps we can create a list of responses for @hamishNews to have at the ready? I& #39;ll start...
#auspol #qanda

"We need a coal industry for jobs”

While their role has been important, coal workers make up around .5% of the work force in Australia, mining less than 2%. Beyond Zero Emissions& #39; new plan outlines 1 million new jobs transitioning to a clean economy: https://bze.org.au/the-million-jobs-plan/">https://bze.org.au/the-milli...

“Gas is a safe, clean, transition fuel”

Recent studies show if just 2.8% of gas leaks in extraction or distribution, it can be worse for the climate than coal (methane is much more of a heat trapping GHG than CO2). BP estimates current gas leaks at 3.2%. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2020/02/super-potent-methane-in-atmosphere-oil-gas-drilling-ice-cores/">https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2...

“We will need gas as part of our transition for decades, even Alan Finkel said it”

AEMO says our grid could support 75% renewables by 2025 with the right regulations
https://arena.gov.au/blog/75-renewable-nem-possible-by-2025-aemo/
Also">https://arena.gov.au/blog/75-r... US has cheaper gas so why not use a HUGE economic advantage we have with renewables

“Australia is meeting its Paris targets”

Nope. Here’s a graph by @KetanJ0 based on recent figures:

Also, the EIA recently announced that 2019 was the first year in US history that renewables surpassed coal energy generation. It& #39;s like the rest of the world is starting to listen to music on streaming platforms but we still want to play cassettes.
https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=43895&src=email&utm_source=morning_brew">https://www.eia.gov/todayinen...