SPONSORED BY Page 1 Fossil • Fossil Fool Bulletin 1:29 • 19 June 2018Fool KNITTING NANNAS AGAINST GAS Bulletin Fossil fools in the spotlight this week: A resource for people working to end the fossil fuel era in Australia Published by Eve Sinton • [email protected] FFB 1:29 • 19 JUNE 2018 Debunked: report exposes myth of gas as a clean transition fuel By Matt Maiorana & FFB tion and consumption can deliver a transition A new report report, ‘Debunked: to a cleaner energy sys- The G20 Clean Gas Myth’ focuses on tem has centred around fossil gas development in the G20 the issue of methane and debunking the myth of fossil gas leakage. Methane, the as a clean transition fuel. The report primary hydrocarbon finds that the concept of fossil gas as contained in fossil gas, is a “bridge fuel” to a stable climate is a highly potent green- a myth. Emissions from existing gas house gas (GHG) when fields, alongside existing oil and coal vented or leaked to the development, already exceed car- atmosphere. bon budgets aligned with the Paris Agreement. Studies have found that methane leakage Even if all coal mines were shut levels can be much down tomorrow, the gas and oil in higher for gas produced via fracking than for take the world beyond the carbon bud- conventionally produced already-developedget for a 50% chance fields at staying alone would below gas. If elevated levels of 1.5ºC of global warming. methane are leaked in Despite this reality, G20 countries are the process of producing projected to host investment of over and delivering fossil gas US$1.6 trillion in new gas projects to consumers, then its by 2030. If this happens, emissions emissions advantage unlocked through 2050 would make it over coal for power generation or other uses the Paris Agreement, which has been is reduced or negated, extremelysigned by alldifficult G20 members. to meet the goals of and the bridge fuel idea is mistaken. Australia among top five offenders to power the plants that chill the gas LNG export: Making a bad problem worse Five countries – the United States, Rus- estimated that six to ten percent of the sia, Australia, China, and Canada – are intogas processed LNG. Where is requiredfossil gas for is used, powering it is projected to be responsible for 75% of gas that is cooled to -162 degrees to the plant. There is also energy re- capital expenditures in gas production Liquifiedreduce volume Natural and Gas facilitate (LNG) is shipping fossil in G20 countries from 2018-2030. As shale gas production has grown – quiredamount for to shippingthe full lifecycle and regasification. emissions across oceans. On arrival the liquefied So,of producing the LNG process and using adds fossil a significant gas. enabled by the development of hydrau- gasdestination. is generally regasified to be further lic fracturing (fracking) and horizontal transported by pipeline to its final If methane leakage is not kept at very drilling – much of the controversy over As might be expected, this intense low levels – well below 2 percent, whether increased fossil gas produc- process requires a lot of energy. Elec- tricity and fossil gas are generally used • Continued p2 • P 2: Adani wants • P 3: Govt reports that • P 4: Inside 10bn litres of water mining dries out Hunter the news Page 2 • Fossil Fool Bulletin 1:29 • 19 June 2018 Debunked: dangerous Adani: 10 billion litres of Suttor transitional fuel myth • Continued from p1 River water up for grabs, no EIS depending on shipping distance and may result in increased GHG emis- othersions. factors – replacing coal with LNG New gas locks in emissions The problem with building a lot of new fossil gas capacity is that the companies investing in gas infrastruc- ture expect to operate their plants for decades to come. Power plants and re- lated infrastructure like pipelines and investments that require decades of LNG terminals are multibillion-dollar investing today expects to retire the Plans by Adani to avoid a full Federal of the surrounding region of Central operationinfrastructure to turn earlier a profit. than Nobody 30 years environmental impact assessment Queensland is in drought. of their plans to take 10 billion litres into its lifetime at minimum, while “Adani are saying this take of water of river water in Central Queensland many power plants operate for much is not part of a large scale coal mining are dangerous, and undermine Fed- longer. This means that gas plants built project, which is absurd, and should be eral environment laws. over the next few years could still be slapped down by the Federal Environ- operating beyond 2050, when emis- Adani recently submitted a referral ment Minister who should demand a sions from the power sector must be under the Federal Environment Pro- full environmental impact statement. nearing zero. tection and Biodiversity Conservation The myth of fossil gas as a “bridge” to Federal water trigger undermined a stable climate does not stand up to Scheme which will extract 10 billion Actlitres 1999 of water for the from North the GalileeSuttor RiverWater to “This move by Adani will also under- run the Carmichael coal mine. mine the Federal water trigger and date has focused on methane leakage, allow other mining companies to fol- scrutiny.the data showsWhile muchthat the of GHGthe debate emissions to In its referral, Adani claims that the low suit and take and use river water just from burning the fossil gas itself scheme is not captured by the Federal without proper Federal environment are enough to overshoot climate goals. water trigger and says that it is not assessment. a controlled action, which means it “This is yet another example of Adani rather than increase it, and the fact would not require an Environmental Impact Statement. making things up as they go along - Wethat must methane reduce leakage fossil willgas combustionnever be they got approval for a huge coal mine reduced to zero only makes this task Carmel Flint, spokesperson for Lock without knowing where they were more urgent. the Gate Alliance said “Adani is trying going to get their water from, and are This report is one of two published to sneak through a massive 10 billion now trying to push through their wa- simultaneously that question the litre water scheme, including a dam ter plan without any transparency. and pipeline, without a full environ- ongoing push for expanding fossil gas “Adani is also suggesting that it will production in G20 countries. mental impact assessment under Federal environment laws. make water available to other Galilee It was produced by: Oil Change Interna- Basin coal mines from the scheme in tional in collaboration with African Climate “If the Federal Minister approves this, the future, which suggests that they it will be yet another special deal for might triple the amount of water taken Movement on Debt & Development, Christian Adani that hangs Queensland farmers, - all without any proper assessment or Reality Project, Amazon Watch, Asian Peoples’ local communities and the environ- public consultation” she said. HealthAid, Earthworks, of Mother Engajamundo,Earth Foundation, Food Leave & Water it ment out to dry, at a time when most inEurope, the Ground Food & Initiative, Water Watch, Legambiente, Greenpeace, Obser - vatori del Deute en la Globalització, Platform, Dr Wayne Somerville is well known in the Northern Rivers, earth, UK Youth Climate Coalition, urgewald, and NSW, for his involvement with the Bentley Blockade. 350.org.Rainforest Action Network, Re:Common, Stand. His new book, Shallow Thought, Deep Mind: What The report can be downloaded here: you need to succeed, thrive and make the world http://priceofoil.org/2018/06/11/debunked-g20-clean-gas- myth/ better, is for everyone who takes on life’s challenges and dreams of brighter tomorrows. The partner report, ‘Debunked: The The book can be purchased from website Promise of Argentina’s Vaca Muerta www.drwaynesomerville.com for $24.99 which includes Shale Play postage anywhere in Australia and GST. The e-book version is http://priceofoil.org/debunked-vaca-muerta available on Amazon. An audio book is coming. ,’ is available at: Page 23 • Fossil Fool Bulletin 1:29 • 19 June 2018 Government report: massive water drawdown from mining could affect up to 30% of the Hunter region The Commonwealth government has released its Hunter Bioregional Assessment, revealing that 25% of the Hunter could already have been affected by groundwater drawdown caused by mining. Another 5% of the region is likely to be affected if proposed new mines proceed. The report also indicates that there has been impacts on river systems, particularly in the Goulburn River catchment, and reveal the extensive impact that the Bylong coal mine would have on groundwater if it was approved. Lock the Gate Alliance spokesperson shows that a massive area of the GeorginaHunter Valley Woods is experiencing said, “This report negative impacts from coal mining with almost 25% of the region potentially already affected by groundwater drawdown from mining. “This represents a risk to agriculture in the region, and is even more con- cerning during a drought like the one we are experiencing at present when farmers are under pressure already and reliant on groundwater. New mines, expansions proposed “The report shows that the 17 pro- posed new mines and expansions in the region will only make things worse never be allowed in the Bylong Valley very likely (greater than 95% chance) for our groundwater, with water losses - to occur at distances of 5km from mine expected in the Singleton, Muswell- ment to acknowledge this new infor- sites. andmation we’re and calling reject on the the mine.” NSW Govern The Bioregional Assessment reveals brook and Jerry’s water sources.” that the groundwater drawdown from Highlights from the report •water Water sources.