Communities sigh with relief at changed wording

Australia’s coal communities are celebrating late changes to the COP26 pact that will see the commodity ‘phased-down’ rather than ‘phased-out’.

Queensland mining towns had feared the transition to renewables would cost jobs but are preparing for the inevitable move away from coal. Picture: AAP

Australia’s coal communities are celebrating late changes to the COP26 pact that will see the commodity “phased-down” rather than “phased-out”.

In a twist on the final day of the two week UN climate summit in Glasgow, India insisted on watering down the agreement in a move that supported Australia’s public pro-coal position.

Queensland mining towns had feared the transition to renewables would cost jobs but are preparing for the inevitable move away from coal.

Anne Baker, mayor of Queensland’s Isaac Regional Council, one of Australia‘s largest coal-producing regions, said policy needed to balance emission reduction with the impact on communities.

“The revised wording validates what we have been saying about the need for transformation in the mining industry rather than transitioning away from the industry,” Ms Baker said.

Communities in NSW’s Hunter Valley, which produces quality thermal coal, are also preparing for life after coal, but say the government needs to empower communities to “develop new industries and find jobs in new markets”.

Singleton mayor Sue Moore said the speed of transition to renewables would depend on affordability of clean energy technologies.

“All policymakers seeking to accelerate the journey towards low-cost, reliable and clean energy must do so in a way that is equitable for both developing nations and regions like the Hunter, who’s industry and workers have been the backbone of developed economies for many decades,” Ms Moore said.

Grattan Institute’s Tony Wood said he believed Australia would have one or two coal-fired power plants in 2040 and, globally, thermal coal would “disappear” about 2050.

Mr Wood said phasing out of mining of metallurgical coal would depend on how fast technology was developed to use hydrogen to make steel.