8 February 2019
Rocky Hill judgement exposes bankruptcy of fossil fuel industry’s pollution claims
The Nature Conservation Council congratulates Groundswell Gloucester and the Environmental Defenders Office NSW for their historic win in the Land and Environment Court today.
“This is a great victory for the community of Gloucester and our climate over the interests of big mining companies,” Nature Conservation Council Kate Smolski said.
“Until now, coal and gas companies have been allowed by governments to deny responsibility for the pollution their products cause.
“Today’s judgement lays bare the bankruptcy of that falsehood once and for all.
“It is a shame we had to wait for the courts to protect our communities, climate and environment from coal and gas projects, which people naturally expect their governments will do.
“We call on the government to ban all new coal or gas projects and develop a plan to dismantle our coal-dependent energy system, replacing it with one that sources our power from solar, wind and storage.”
The Nature Conservation Council and other climate action groups are calling on all parties to ensure:
- The NSW Government tenders for 4000 MW of large-scale clean power by 2023 (the next term of government).
- All government operations are powered with renewable energy, including schools and public hospitals, by 2023.
- Every household (including low-income and rental properties) can access solar power by 2029 through a Solar For All Rebate and by helping families with solar install batteries.
- The government legislates net-zero carbon emissions by 2040 and all government decisions consider the impact of policies on climate change.
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Climate and energyCoal and gas
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