Australia unveils plan to keep burning gas beyond 2050 May 11, 2024

Australia is a major exporter of liquefied natural gas

By AFP - Agence France Presse

Australia unveils plan to keep burning gas beyond 2050

Australia unveiled plans Thursday to keep burning natural gas beyond 2050, saying its reliance on fossil fuel would not jeopardize its pledge to reach net zero emissions in the next 30 years.

Resources Minister Madeleine King said gas “will remain an important source of energy” in Australia, outraging environmental groups who branded the Future Gas Strategy a “climate disaster”.

“Gas is needed until 2050 and beyond,” King said, arguing that it would bolster the economy and stabilize the country's electricity grid as renewables are ramped up.

Australia has committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2050 and recently unveiled plans to reform its economy with massive investments in clean energy production.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese defended the gas strategy, saying it would not jeopardize Australia's climate commitments.

“It is consistent with the long-term position we have held, my government is committed to a net zero future,” he said.

“Gas-fired power generation is something that firms up renewables.”

However, environmental groups have dismissed the strategy.

Jennifer Rayner, advocacy director of the non-profit Australian Climate Council, said the government needed to choose between gas or renewable energy.

“It's not possible to do both,” she said.

“More gas is a bad bet, against a secure climate future and a clean, prosperous economy.”

Australian Conservation Foundation spokesman Gavan McFadzean said the government's gas plan was a “climate disaster” that needed to be abandoned.

“Gas is a highly polluting fossil fuel, the burning of which is increasing bushfires, heatwaves, coral bleaching, and flooding in Australia and around the world,” he said.

“Replacing one fossil fuel with another is not a clean energy transition.”

Australia will continue to ship gas overseas in line with the government's strategy, which also advocates the exploration and exploitation of several new gas fields.

The Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis has cast doubt on the need for more gas.

“Our research found that the exploration and development of more gas is not necessary,” said analyst Josh Runciman in a statement.

“Spending on gas exploration has been falling over the past decade as gas companies turn to renewable investments or return cash to shareholders.”

Liquid natural gas is Australia's second-largest export in terms of value, worth about $60 billion last year, according to government data.

Gas accounts for almost a third of Australia's energy consumption, while renewables account for around 8.9%.

Australia has pledged to reduce carbon emissions by 43% by 2030 compared to 2005 levels, on a path to achieving net zero emissions by 2050.

Australia's carbon dioxide emissions per person are among the highest in the world, at 15.3 tons, surpassing US levels, according to World Bank data.

lec/sft/lb