SYDNEY 29th Jan 2020 – Prime Minister Scott Morrison has today used his National Press Club address to call for more fossil fuels, despite the country still burning in a climate-change fuelled bushfire disaster.In this afternoon’s speech, the Prime Minister called for more gas to be extracted and burned for electricity – a move that would further increase Australia’s emissions, as gas is a highly polluting fossil fuel.
“We know that climate change has exacerbated Australia’s current bushfire crisis, and yet the Prime Minister is now calling to add more fossil fuels to the fire,” said Dr Nikola Casule, Head of Research and Investigations at Greenpeace Australia Pacific.
“This is yet another move in a string of logic-defying false solutions to the climate crisis proposed by the Prime Minister, instead of meaningfully committing to reduce Australia’s emissions, which are driven by burning coal, oil and gas.”
“While koalas are burning alive, and fires threaten the nation’s capital, the Prime Minister is calling for fossil fuels to be added to the fire, by seeking to increase the burning of gas in Australia”
“The Prime Minister also used the National Press Club address to double down on the Coalition’s misleading rhetoric on Australia’s emissions reporting, which uses dodgy accounting ruled out by almost every other country in the world”
“Prime Minister Scott Morrison has repeatedly refused to meaningfully respond to both the bushfire crisis and climate crisis, and he continues to use this national tragedy to mislead the public on Australia’s emissions, which have risen year on year.”
“In order to deal with the climate crisis in a way that not only keeps Australians safe, but ensures we are doing our part as a global citizen, Australia must lead in shifting from dirty and polluting fossil fuels to becoming a renewable energy superpower.”
For more information or interviews, please contact Communications Campaigner Nicholas McCallum on +61428 113 346 or email [email protected]
