Pages tagged "Climate"
Peak environment group welcomes progress on Hunter Renewable Energy Zone
MEDIA RELEASE
18 December 2024
The Nature Conservation Council of New South Wales (NCC), the state’s peak environmental organisation, has today welcomed the NSW Government’s appointment of Ausgrid as the preferred network operator for the Hunter-Central Coast Renewable Energy Zone (REZ).
Statements attributable to NCC Senior Climate Campaigner, Jacqui Mills:
“Today’s announcement is an exciting milestone in the development of NSW’s clean energy opportunities.
“The Hunter REZ will ensure the region continues to power our state for decades to come, delivering real benefits locally.
“This region is well placed with a skilled local workforce, abundant renewable energy potential and an existing electricity infrastructure network to utilise.
“Renewables are creating jobs and alternative income streams for landholders across NSW and this project will bring these benefits to the Hunter.
“As coal plants reach the end of their lives, renewables with storage are the cheapest and most reliable way to keep the lights on.”
Statement ends
Media contact: Anna Greer
E: [email protected] M: 0493 733 529 PH: (02) 7208 9482
Note: Spokesperson is available for comment on request.
Peak environment body welcomes faster clean energy assessments
MEDIA RELEASE
Tuesday 12th November
The Nature Conservation Council of New South Wales (NCC), the state’s leading environmental advocacy organisation, today welcomed the commitment from the NSW State Government to reduce planning delays for renewable energy projects and called for action to restore nature during the renewable energy transition.
“Unblocking the clean energy pipeline is the first step to allowing cleaner, cheaper energy to flow to the people of NSW,” said Nature Conservation Council CEO Jacqui Mumford.
“NSW needs a four-fold increase in wind farm construction to provide clean, cheap electricity ahead of the closure of the state’s aging coal-fired power stations.
“The state is behind on its legislated climate targets and has already made the costly and polluting decision to extend the largest coal power station's closure date by two years.
“The Nature Conservation Council is also calling on the government to fix nature laws to reverse the decline of biodiversity in the state.
“The renewable energy transition is a ‘once in a generation’ opportunity to restore degraded habitat. Where developers are siting projects on already cleared land, they should be looking at opportunities to restore damaged creek lines or revegetate, for example.”
“We are in a biodiversity crisis – only half of NSW’s threatened species expected to survive in 100 years due to pressures of climate change and land clearing.
“Action is needed now to strengthen nature laws and use the renewable transition to reach emissions reductions and biodiversity goals.”
The NSW Renewable Energy Planning Framework includes guidelines for wind, solar and transmission renewable energy projects, negotiating agreements with private landholders hosting infrastructure and ensuring benefits flow to local communities.
Statement ends
Media contact: Anna Greer
E: [email protected] M: 0493 733 529 PH: (02) 7208 9482
Note: NCC CEO Jacqui Mumford is available for comment on request.
Koalas Not Coal
A recent report by the Koalas Not Coal alliance revealed that federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek is facing approval decisions on 26 new coal mines and expansions in NSW and Queensland. They join another 3 proposals that are yet to be referred to be assessed for the government under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act.
Since then Tanya Plibersek has signed off on seven coal projects, including two mentioned in the report – Vitrinite's new Vulcan South mine (approved in December 2024) and Whitehaven Coal's Narrabri UG Stage 3 Extension (approved in September 2024). If these 26 new mines and expansions are all given the go-ahead, they would clear a combined total of 11,644 hectares of precious koala habitat and produce over 8 billion tonnes of carbon pollution.
This level of proposed destruction and carbon pollution paints a grim future for koalas threatened by more habitat loss through extreme heat, bushfires and droughts exacerbated by climate change.
Despite being an iconic and beloved Australian species, Koalas have been listed as ‘endangered’ since 2022. For over two decades they have been facing a rate of decline that cannot be allowed to continue.
We know our federal environment laws are broken and are in the process of undergoing once-in-a-generation reforms, but koalas and our climate can’t wait.
Right now, Minister Tanya Plibersek has the power and opportunity to reject these disastrous new mines and stand by her commitment to no new extinctions.
(Photo: Laura Barry)
We call on the Minister Tanya Plibersek and the Albanese Government to:
- Reject approvals for new coal mines and expansions that impact koalas and other threatened species, to address the threat of extinction from habitat destruction and climate change;
- Put in place an immediate moratorium on the clearing of any further koala habitat for coal projects and review environmental approvals of projects approved to impact on koala habitat in the last two years;
- End the reliance on biodiversity offsets that enable destruction of critical koala and other threatened species habitat, such as the greater glider;
- Commit to a rapid phase out of fossil fuels, to safeguard endangered species like the koala from the devastating impacts of climate collapse;
- Enact strong new nature laws that effectively protect threatened species and their habitat as well as comprehensively assess the climate impacts of proposed projects
NCC welcomes establishment of NSW Net Zero Commission
MEDIA RELEASE
10th July 2024
The Nature Conservation Council of New South Wales (NCC), the state’s leading environmental advocacy organisation, has welcomed the establishment of the NSW Net Zero Commission and appointment of inaugural Commissioners.
The independent, expert commission has been established to provide expert advice on the steps we must take to achieve our legislated climate goals.
NSW has legislated targets to reduce emissions by at least 50% by 2030, 70% by 2035 and reach net zero emissions by 2050. Recent government modelling has shown the state is currently tracking to undershoot these targets: -44% by 2030 and -65% by 2035.
“We welcome the establishment of the Net Zero Commission and the independent expertise it will bring to climate policy in NSW,” said Nature Conservation Council NSW chief executive officer Jacqui Mumford.
“This commission is an excellent framework to accelerate climate action and it is an opportunity to address some of the barriers to achieving our emissions reduction targets.
“A sure-fire way to help get the state back on track to achieving our emissions reduction targets is to phase out destructive native forest logging and tackle runaway habitat clearing.”
Quotes attributable to NCC CEO Jacqui Mumford:
“NSW needs to urgently redouble emissions reduction efforts considering recent projections and the catastrophic impacts we continue to witness around the world.
“Phasing out native forest logging and reining in habitat clearing would make immediate and significant contributions to our emissions efforts.
“Land clearing is responsible for approximately 10% of Australia’s emissions, whilst ending native forest logging in NSW would prevent an estimated 2.4 million tons of greenhouse emissions every year.
“Protecting and restoring forests and habitat is a crucial mitigation action if NSW is to meet our targets.
“We will be writing to the commission to encourage their consideration of these nature-based solutions.
“NCC also welcomes the recent parliamentary appointments to the Joint Standing Committee on Net Zero Future, which will have oversight of the Commission.
“We look forward to working with all members to accelerate climate action.”
Statement ends
Sources for emissions data:
Land clearing - Quarterly Update of Australia’s National Greenhouse Gas Inventory: June 2022, Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, https://www.dcceew.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/nggi-quarterly-update-june-2022.pdf
Native Forestry - Sanger J, The Carbon Benefit from Protecting Australia’s Public Native Forests, sourced at https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7031078401469800448/
Media contact: Anna Greer
E: [email protected] M: 0493 733 529 PH: (02) 7208 9482
Note: NCC CEO Jacqui Mumford is available for comment on request
Nuclear will mean higher household bills and more climate pollution
MEDIA RELEASE
June 19, 2024
The Nature Conservation Council of New South Wales (NCC), the state’s leading environmental advocacy organisation, has today criticised the Federal Coalition’s “nuclear fantasy” as a commitment to higher energy bills for NSW households and more climate pollution.
Today’s announcement of an uncosted plan from the Federal Coalition to build nuclear reactors at Liddell power station in the Hunter Valley and Mount Piper power station near Lithgow is a dangerous distraction from the renewable energy transition underway in NSW.
International experience shows that it takes up to twenty years to build nuclear reactors, meaning that ageing coal fired power plants would continue to emit dangerous climate pollution for years to come.
Statements attributable to NCC Chief Executive Officer Jacqui Mumford
“The Federal Coalition has not released detailed research relating to sites in NSW nor come clean to the Australian people on the cost of building multi-billion dollar nuclear reactors.
“The announcement is nothing more than the Federal Coalition pandering to its mates in the fossil fuels industry.
“There’s no plan to deal with harmful nuclear waste, and no indication of how the Federal government would get around state-based bans on nuclear.
“We should be replacing our polluting and ageing coal-fired power plants in NSW with renewable energy generation and storage, not with a nuclear fantasy.
“Renewable energy is the cheapest and most affordable form of energy, and NSW needs to get on with the job of scaling it up to deliver a sustainable future and sound economic growth prospects for our state.”
Statement ends
Media contact: Anna Greer
E: [email protected] M: 0493 733 529 PH: (02) 7208 9482
Note: NCC CEO Jacqui Mumford is available for comment on request
NSW budget neglects biodiversity
MEDIA RELEASE
June 18, 2024
The Nature Conservation Council of New South Wales (NCC), the state’s leading environmental advocacy organisation, has today expressed disappointment that the NSW budget has again failed to deliver for nature.
In the middle of an extinction crisis, funding for ecosystem restoration and threatened species is going backwards.
NSW habitat is so degraded it can only support 29% of the plants and animals it once did. 1043 plants and animals in NSW are currently listed as at risk of extinction, a 50% increase in 10 years.
Without significant public investment to grow protected areas and restore degraded ecosystems, many of the ecosystems that make our state so special will simply collapse.
The NSW Labor Government is spending just 1.61%* of the budget on the environment, which is even less than last year.
“Labor came into power promising to turn the tide, and yet this is the second year in a row nature funding, as a percentage, has declined,” NCC Chief Executive Officer Jacqui Mumford said.
“Without a seismic shift in nature investment NSW will see more extinctions and fail to meet our ‘30 by 30’ Global Biodiversity Framework targets.”
Statements attributable to NCC Chief Executive Officer Jacqui Mumford
“The nature deficit needs to be addressed by proper investment in NSW’s biodiversity.
“Whilst Premier Chris Minns loves spruiking the beauty of NSW nature and posting selfies in pretty places, it’s clear biodiversity isn’t a priority for this government.
“There is a substantial investment in renewables, but NSW needs to do a lot more to turn the biodiversity crisis around.
“We need to recognise that we have a dual crisis and that spending on renewable infrastructure will not in itself stop extinction and the tragic loss of biodiversity occurring all around us.
“The number of listed threatened species continues to rise. However not even half (~40%) of these species are being managed under the Saving our Species (SoS) program. Clearly more funding is needed.
“Taxpayers are again footing the bill for the horrific destruction of our native forests, with no plans to follow Qld, Victoria and Western Australia and save the budget millions of dollars a year by ending native forest logging.”
Propping up the industrial logging of our native forests is an ongoing financial burden to NSW taxpayers. In the last 3 years, the native hardwood division of Forestry Corporation has lost $44m. NSW remains the only mainland state without a plan to phase out native forest logging, this must change.
Statement ends
Background
*Budget Paper Number 1, General government sector expenses by function shows Environmental Protection receiving $1,964m in 2024-2025, which represents 1.61% of total expenditure v 1.67% in the 2023-24 Budget v 1.73% in the 2022-23 budget.
Media contact: Anna Greer
E: [email protected] M: 0493 733 529 PH: (02) 7208 9482
Note: NCC CEO Jacqui Mumford is available for comment on request
Peak environment body welcomes support for household batteries
May 24th 2024
The Nature Conservation Council of New South Wales (NCC), the state’s leading environmental advocacy organisation, has today welcomed the announcement of new incentives for household batteries.
Households with solar panels will be able to receive between $1600 to $2400 off the installation costs of household batteries under changes to the Peak Demand Reduction Scheme.
“With NSW leading the way on rooftop solar this is a key piece of the renewable puzzle and will save households money and decrease grid demand in peak times,” said NCC climate campaigner Eve Altman.
“In the wake of the Eraring extension it's important that the government is taking all steps possible to ensure reliability through the accelerated build of renewables.
“Investment in household battery is going to be critical to our future energy mix. It increases reliability for both the household and the grid, and will save households money on up-front installation and energy bills.
“We look forward to an ambitious consumer energy strategy and more incentives to help households enjoy the benefits of clean energy and lower bills.
“Alongside batteries, demand responsive heat pumps are a leading way to reduce greenhouse emissions and household costs.
"We look forward to seeing more announcements in the future to ensure we are getting to 100% reliable renewables as fast as possible."
Statement ends
Media contact: Anna Greer
E: [email protected] M: 0493 733 529 PH: (02) 7208 9482
Peak environment group blasts taxpayer-funded extension of coal plant
May 23rd 2024
NCC welcomes largest renewable energy tender announcement
MEDIA RELEASE
April 22nd 2024
The Nature Conservation Council of New South Wales (NCC), the state’s leading environmental advocacy organisation, has today strongly welcomed the joint announcement by NSW & Federal governments of the largest single renewable energy tender in Australia.
The new tender is part of the Capacity Investment Scheme (CIS), that will target 6 GW of new variable renewable energy projects for the National Electricity Market (NEM).
“It is heartening to see the NSW and Commonwealth Governments working together to push forward the renewable energy transition,” said NCC Climate and Energy Senior Campaigner, Jacqui Mills.
To speed up this transition even further, NSW needs to fix its planning and environmental protection laws. That will give investors and the community the confidence we need to ensure NSW moves from a laggard to leader when it comes to climate action.
Statements attributable to NCC Climate and Energy Senior Campaigner Jacqui Mills
“While the Coalition is stuck on divisive debates about nuclear, the energy transition is not slowing down.
“There is still a lot of work to be done in speeding up consideration of new renewable projects, as well as policies that incentivise solar and storage from businesses and households, however, this is a significant step forward on the path to a clean energy future.
“The momentum for the clean energy transition is growing, and there is no need to hold on to old technology like Eraring coal-fired power plant. Let’s close this ailing, polluting coal plant down and continue to turbocharge investment in renewable infrastructure.
“Tackling climate change is a win for nature because climate change threatens eco-systems and species.
“The government has an opportunity to ensure renewable projects are done in a way that enhances nature, as it tackles the challenges of the energy transition.
“By building infrastructure on already degraded land, partnering energy projects with agriculture, restoring ecosystems on the sites of energy projects and establishing closed-loop product life-cycles, Australia can lead the way towards a nature positive energy system.
“We can have the best of both worlds by making sure that strong planning and nature laws support renewable energy projects that restore nature.”
Statement ends
Media contact: Anna Greer
E: [email protected] M: 0493 733 529 PH: (02) 7208 9482
Note: NCC Climate and Energy Senior Campaigner Jacqui Mills is available for comment on request