CLIMATE activists in Fiji and the Pacific are condemning a move by the New South Wales Independent Planning Commission (IPC) to approve the expansion of one of the largest coal mines in the Australian state.
The pushback led by 350.org Pacific and other communities collected over 4000 submissions opposing the extension which according to organisation could release 800 million tonnes of climate pollution.
350.org Pacific and Caribbean program manager Fenton Lutunatabua said with the pre-COP Summit just days away, Australia would unfortunately enter these discussions with an 800 million shadow over them.
“Every promise from Australia will be measured against their decisions to either lock us into decades of climate pollution, or shut down coal expansion once and for all,” said Mr Lutunatabua.
“It’s not rocket science – you cannot come to the Pacific, witness the severity of our climate impacts, and go home and approve a giant coal mine.
“We will be watching very closely.”
Jacynta Fa’amau of 350.org said they were horrified by the decision.
“I joined thousands of others in submitting our objection to this carbon bomb, but our testimonies have fallen on deaf ears,” he said.
“It’s not just the Pacific that will suffer.
“The science has made it very clear that whether Australia burns its coal at home or overseas, the wildfires, floods and droughts will remain at their front door.
“The billions will sit with Glencore while the fallout will land on everyday people.”
Fiji in partnership with Australia and Tuvalu is delivering the official pre-COP31 ministerial meeting with the main program hosted in Nadi and a special leader’s segment hosted in Tuvalu.
