Adani CEO responds to reader’s criticisms

ON March 18, Mackay resident Brooke Reynolds wrote to The Morning Bulletin expressing her concerns with the state of the nation and the Prime Minister's handling of the climate change issue.

She wrote:

"TRUST the science," Scott Morrison said.

I heard him say it on TV.

He was talking about COVID-19, which scientists have been researching for a little over four months.

So why can't he trust the science of climate change, which scientists have been researching for over 100 years?

"Don't demand arbitrary time frames," he wisely went on to say.

Well, if he would stop and take a good look around, he would see that many climate change time frames are not arbitrary - they are happening now.

Rising seas, rising temperatures, rising CO2 levels, rising death tolls from fires, floods and polluted air, coral bleaching, the list goes on.

I am not trying to minimise the horror of COVID-19, nor am I trying to link the new virus to climate change.

I am saying that every global pandemic needs a firm and bold response and that climate change is high on the list of world population killers.

PM Morrison and his Government can and must act boldly and swiftly and stop the mining of thermal coal in Australia.

To do so would take courage and vision but is it wrong to want less from our leaders?

Stop Adani now before the entire Galilee Basin is ripped open to exponentially compound the silent pandemic of climate change.

Brooke McReynolds

Mackay

Adani CEO Lucas Dow responded yesterday.

He wrote:

Brooke McReynolds, Mackay demonstrates the flawed thinking of the anti-fossil fuels movement.

The facts are that Australia already exports over 390 million tonnes of coal each year.

From next year our Carmichael project will add 10 million tonnes of quality coal to that total.

At Adani, we believe the science of climate change and that it is a challenge we must collectively address across the globe.

As the world's population increases and people in developing countries emerge from poverty, the world will need more energy while managing emissions responsibly.

The global energy system is changing to meet this growing energy need.

We see examples of this change in Asia with the construction of next generation coal-fired power stations, an increase in the use of gas, and renewables like hydro, solar and wind power.

Adani recognises this change and is a leading renewable energy company.

We have over 2.5GW of renewable generation capacity installed and more under construction, and we are a producer of affordable, reliable, thermal (coal-fired) power in India.

The world needs sustainable, reliable and affordable energy solutions.

Both coal and renewables are an important part of that mix and we are proud to be helping to provide both along with jobs and business opportunities for regional Queenslanders through the construction of our Carmichael project.

Yours sincerely,

Lucas Dow

CEO - Adani Mining