Whether you like it or not, coal is a necessity
WE HAVE to stop demonising coal in this country and take a responsible, rational approach to the incorporation of clean coal technology into our energy requirements and exports.
We have to stop acting like it’s evil. It’s not. It’s something that we need at present and will need for some time into the future. First and foremost: WE NEED COAL.
To keep our economy running, to keep the wheels of industry turning and to keep the lights on.
We can absolutely care deeply about the environment and accept a moral responsibility to protect its fragilities, we can acknowledge the impacts of our ever-changing climate and commit to reducing carbon emissions AND still be immensely proud of the overwhelming contribution that mining and the resources sector has made to this country over many years.
If there were alternate, completely clean and renewable energy sources that were available right now that had infrastructure in place and were accessible and affordable, then you might be able to make the argument that we should no longer be using coal, oil, gas — but we don’t.
There is ample evidence in recent years of times and occasions when renewables just haven’t been able to supply our energy needs.
So, in Australia, we don’t have that choice yet and, of course, despite the integrity and merit of our commitment to achieve ‘net zero’, we are going to do so in a region of the world where emissions will continue to rise for some years. This year Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions account for about 1.6 per cent of the world figure and, to put it delicately, the track records of many emitters in our region are very dubious.
Their actions often differ from promises they make in international forums and reflect the necessity and pragmatism of developing their countries and empowering their economies. Australian Test cricket captain Pat Cummins has made headlines this week with his opposition to major Cricket Australia sponsor Alinta Energy.
The second anyone in the public eye makes a move like this, generally a quick scroll of their Instagram will reveal inconsistencies in their stance.
I don’t believe that you can’t suddenly feel passionate about something or change your attitude, that you can’t have lived one kind of life then changed as you grew and developed different standards by which you want to live your life. Go for gold.
What makes it far more complex is if a member of a prominent team or organisation takes a contrary stand against a sponsor or standard individually.
In these cases unless you are all in on this stance — whatever it may be — then consequences of the stance need to be considered in the broadest possible context of all members of the team and the organisation they represent. It’s like when people refuse to do something because of religious reasons, which at a base level I completely respect, but then cherry pick other parts of their religion’s mandates to not take so seriously or happily ignore.
If Cummins wants to not wear the baggy green, that’s between him and Cricket Australia, but if there’s been any pressure put on the organisation to end the sponsorship with Alinta, then I think he’s crossed a line.
While this country still relies on fossil fuels to function, we cannot demonise those who provide it for us.
You can speak about climate change and how important the eventual transition to renewables is but you cannot stop a legitimate company from putting invaluable funds into a sport, particularly when many of those who benefit are at the grassroots level. Alinta has a Pathway To Net Zero plan that focuses on emissions, reliability and affordability and it invests heavily in our communities, including our sport.
The Tata Group, India’s largest conglomerate, involved in many heavy industries including mining, is recognised by the Indian Government as a ‘Climate Change Rising Star’ and is progressing a climate change agenda.
And it also invests heavily in Indian communities, including sport — in fact, it sponsors the very popular, lucrative and successful Indian Premier League (IPL).
Emissions targets within Tata Group companies are set “… keeping in mind respective industry competitive forces which include forecasting their emissions based on their growth aspirations’’.
Cummins will line up for the Kolkata Knight Riders when the IPL commences on March 25, 2023.
Given the similarities between Alinta and Tata, it will be interesting to see if Cummins takes a similar stance against Tata branding and sponsorship money.
I sympathise with our athletes sometimes. It’s a hard balance to get right. We want them to be role models. We want them to use their platforms for good. We want them to inspire a nation not just on the field but off it. As they know better than any of us, if they stuff up then the backlash is swift and fierce.