Here’s why Australia needs to keep subsidising renewables

Conservatives love subsidies because they know that they work. It’s why they spend $11bn subsidising private schools and $6bn subsidising private health insurance. It’s why they’re so keen to subsidise new coal mines and coal-fired power stations. And of course, it’s the reason that they are so obsessed with renewable energy subsidies — they know just how effective they would be.

Subsidies that encourage people to install solar and
batteries on their homes speed up the rate at which
 renewables squeeze the coal-fired power stations
 out of business.

There are those who think mining more coal is a good way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and then there are those who don’t. I’m definitely one of the latter. And for those who want to see Australia’s emissions fall, there is no doubt that we need more subsidies for renewables.

Read the comment from The Guardian by Richard Denniss - “Here’s why Australia needs to keep subsidising renewables.”

These residents stopped a coal mine, made history and sent ripples through boardrooms around the world

NSW court sent shock waves through the nation's mining industry earlier this month when it rejected a coal mine planned in Gloucester, a dairy and beef farming area on the state's mid-north coast. The reason, in part, was the mine's impact on climate change.

Gloucester residents after their win in a NSW court against
 the proposed Rocky Hill open-cut coal mine in Gloucester. 

That a court had taken into account climate change was lauded as a landmark. But this case is just part of a much bigger picture. All around the world, there is a growing push to use the law to nudge companies and investors to take action to curb global warming – particularly as our politicians are failing to do so.

It's called climate litigation and you can expect to start hearing about it more often.

Read the story from The Age by Peter Hannam - “These residents stopped a coal mine, made history and sent ripples through boardrooms around the world.”