Victorian coastlines are at risk from new fossil fuel developments.

Victorians overwhelmingly want to see action on the climate crisis and environmental  protection. Yet efforts to reign in emissions and ensure healthy ecosystems are threatened by two new local fossil fuel projects.

Earlier this year, Friends of the Earth launched a campaign to stop them.

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Environment group Friends of the Earth has criticized the Environment Protection Authority’s decision to approve a trial brown coal to hydrogen project in Latrobe Valley on the 14th of February as a costly distraction from action on climate change.

The project is led by the multinational corporation Kawasaki Heavy Industries. It would involve building a test plant to extract hydrogen from brown coal from the Loy Yang mine to be exported to Japan. This trial project requires the dredging of fragile ecosystems in Westernport (home to an internationally recognised biosphere and RAMSAR listed wetlands) to enable the export of the hydrogen from the Port of Hastings, and if it reached full scale the injecting of carbon-waste into the seabed off Ninety Mile Beach using unproven and risky technology.

This morning Matthew Guy and the Victorian Coalition announced their intention to build a new ‘baseload’ 500 MW power station if elected at the November state election.

Friends of the Earth say the Liberal party's decision to release an energy policy open to new gas and coal power fails the climate change test when renewable energy is the best option to cut emissions and deliver cheaper power for Victorians.

The 14th international conference on Greenhouse Gas Control Technologies (GHGT-14), will be held at the Melbourne Convention Centre from 22-25 October.

These conferences are held every two years in a different country, and are the main global forum to discuss the development of carbon capture and storage (or CCS) technology.

Prepare yourself for some glowing media bout how CCS is the answer to the greenhouse emissions that are generated by burning coal. Expect (at least some) politicians to wave the idea of ‘clean coal’ around. The reality isn’t quite as positive.

CCS is one of the false ‘solutions’ to climate change that is routinely peddled by the coal industry and some politicians. A considerable number of conservative politicians (and even a handful of progressives) support it, in the hope it will give us a ‘get out of jail’ free card that will allow us to burn coal without bringing catastrophic global warming down on us.

MEDIA RELEASE – 31 Aug 2018

Environment group slams federal Coalition for squandering taxpayer dollars on polluting brown coal

Friends of the Earth have slammed the Morrison government’s decision to put $1 million of taxpayers money into the flagging brown coal industry, calling on Victoria’s Matthew Guy opposition to distance themselves from the ideological announcement.

But Carbon Capture and Storage off Ninety Mile Beach is no laughing matter

Golden Beach is an idyllic section of Ninety Mile Beach. It boasts a pristine coastline, plentiful fish, multitudes of birds and the skeletal remains of an 1897 shipwreck. But there is a cloud hanging over this lovely place.

A publicly-funded State Government project, called CarbonNet, has earmarked the area for Carbon Storage. This February, seismic testing for a suitable carbon storage site will be undertaken in the waters off Golden Beach.

The Andrews Labor Government has released its coal policy this afternoon (the Statement on Future Uses of Brown Coal).

National environment group Friends of the Earth says that this long awaited policy represents a profound failure of leadership by the state government.

“Climate science makes it abundantly clear that the time for new uses of coal is over, and this policy should have reflected that fact” said Friends of the Earth campaigns coordinator Cam Walker.

The Victorian government is currently drafting a policy which will outline whether coal has a future in Victoria.

This is significant as it will outline the current government's attitude to previous support for experimental coal technologies (which are often held out as the 'saviour' for the coal industry as the power stations start to close, but which is based on untested and potentially unviable technology). Coal to gas proposals are one example of this type of technology.

We assume it will also outline the government's approach to carbon capture and storage (CCS), a technology which has not proven to be commercially viable at scale, but which is often suggested will provide a lifeline to the brown coal industry in Victoria.

The policy is due to be released shortly.

MEDIA RELEASE: 30 Jan 2017

Approval for coal expansion at odds with Andrews govt ambition to lead climate fight

Approval of an expansion to the Loy Yang B coal power plant has been met with criticism from Victoria's environment groups and is at odds with the Andrews government's ambition to lead on climate change.

In a case of embarrassing timing, the Victorian Environment Protection Authority approved the coal project just a day after the Daniel Andrews government claimed a national leadership position on climate change--committing to emissions reductions of up to 20 percent by 2020.

"Expanding coal power undermines the Daniel Andrews government's ambition to lead on climate change," said Leigh Ewbank, acting campaigns coordinator for Friends of the Earth.  

"It's deeply irresponsible to prolong coal power generation with the urgent need to rein in emissions."

"When you're in a hole you stop digging. This decision does nothing to protect Victorian communities from the impacts of climate change."

Friends of the Earth say the timing of both announcements could lead to confusion in the community. The group says the government's forthcoming coal policy must include measures to secure a safe climate.

"The Andrews government can articulate its commitment to leading on climate change in its forthcoming coal policy."

"Misalignment between state climate and energy policy can be resolved. It's why we need the upper house to pass the Climate Change Act and a smart coal policy from the Andrews government."

Friends of the Earth say a smart coal policy for a safe climate would commit to: 

• No new mines or power generation.
• A rapid phase out of existing coal power plants. 
• No coal exports or public funds for "clean coal" technology. 
• And end to political donations and lobbying by coal companies.  
• Transition plans for coal workers and communities.

Friends of the Earth is closely tracking the passage of the Victorian Climate Change Act and development of the Andrews government's coal policy. 

'Expansion of Loy Yang B power station angers green groups,' @theage: https://t.co/SSMF0MVY69 #SpringSt #ActOnClimateVic

— Friends of the Earth (@FoEAustralia) January 29, 2017

Expanding coal power undermines @DanielAndrewsMP govt ambition to lead on climate. Smart coal policy now needed. #SpringSt #ActOnClimateVic https://t.co/x6HhqZjsBN

— Act on Climate Vic (@ActOnClimateVic) January 29, 2017

Approval for coal expansion at odds with Andrews govt ambition to lead climate fight

Approval of an expansion to the Loy Yang B coal power plant has been met with criticism from Victoria's environment groups and is at odds with the Andrews government's ambition to lead on climate change.

In a case of embarrassing timing, the Victorian Environment Protection Authority approved the coal project just a day after the Daniel Andrews government claimed a national leadership position on climate change--committing to emissions reductions of up to 20 percent by 2020.