On 10 March Climate Action Merribek Convenor John Englart delivered an open letter from scientists and climate experts to Peter Khalil’s office on Sydney Road Coburg.

118 scientists and climate experts have now signed this open letter. Climate Action Merribek signed in support via email on 23 February 2023. Some 50 Civil Society organisations have also signed in support of this open letter.

Peter Khalil has failed to consult, engage and listen to constutents and groups working in the climate space in his electorate of Wills over the proposed Safeguard mechanism. He has long promised to initiate an advisory committee on climate and environment which has failed to come to pass.

Climate Action Merribek has had a formal request to meet with Peter Khalil since 21 February with no formal written aknowledgment, although verbal acknowledgements have been made.

So what did the Scientist open letter say?

To the Australian Government

Australia and the rest of the world are on the precipice of irreversible, catastrophic climate change.

The International Energy Agency (IEA), the United Nations, the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and scientists
globally have called for an end to new fossil fuel development as
fossil fuels are the key driver of the climate emergency.

Vast areas of Australia are covered by coal and gas production
and licenses. Coal and gas mined in Australia currently result in
1.5 billion tonnes of emissions annually, around triple the annual
emissions of the UK.

The Australian Government lists over 100 new coal and gas
projects as under development in Australia. Projects scheduled
to begin before 2030 alone will add a further 1.4 billion tonnes

annually by 2030. This excludes emissions from several major
projects and vast new gas basins actively supported by Australian
governments including the Barossa and Greater Sunrise offshore
oil and gas fi elds, and the Beetaloo, Canning and Lake Eyre
unconventional gas basins.

As the world’s third largest exporter of fossil fuels Australia has
a special responsibility to stop fuelling the increase in global
emissions caused by Australian gas and coal production, both here
and overseas. Any serious climate policy must reduce fossil fuel
production and emissions. Offsetting a tiny fraction of the total
emissions from these projects is not a credible climate solution.

We call on the Australian Government to follow the advice of the world’s scientists
and prevent any further new coal and gas developments in Australia.

Protecting Our Climate Means Preventing New Australian Fossil Fuel Projects (PDF)

References:

The Australia Institute, An Open Letter from Australian Scientists and Experts – No New Fossil Fuel Projects