Vector Volume 11 Issue 2 - 2017

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The Great Artesian Basin is a drought-prone area that is critically responsible for supplying an estimated 200 towns and settlements with irrigation and drinking water. [31] The construction of the world’s largest coal mine at this site could risk the livelihoods and lives of Australian primary producers in this region. The importance of water security in drought-prone areas is tantamount and supporting this mine renders these remote Australians even more vulnerable. Australians living in rural and remote settings already have a lower standard of health service provision and are more likely to suffer worse health outcomes as a consequence of their social determinants.[32] The health impacts from the proposed mine are likely to impact rural Australians to an even greater magnitude. Massive quantities of coal will be shipped overseas through the Great Barrier Reef.[3] It is feared that this will exacerbate the already extensive coral bleaching. This will impact Australian coastal communities as the Great Barrier Reef and other coral reefs provide protection from wave and storm damage.[33] Implications for Australia’s regional neighbours Climate change is projected to slow economic growth, erode food security and hinder poverty reduction. The negative effects will be most felt by those who are already disadvantaged.[34] This is especially pertinent for our regional neighbours, predominately developing countries. prevent the temperature associated rises in sea levels in order to prevent their nations going underwater. A 2°C goal requires a 40-70% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared with 2010 levels, whereas a 1.5°C increase will require a 70-95% reduction.[28] As one of the most influential developed countries in our region, Australia has a responsibility to support the continuing development of our regional peers. This begins with supporting their call for action to reduce the global temperature rise to 1.5°C. There is simply no room for the proposed Carmichael coal mine and its extensive pollution in a sustainable future – a future that needs action now. Economic and Political implications The proposed Carmichael mine project has struggled to achieve financing. Nineteen banks (including Australia’s ‘Big Four’) have refused to fund the venture due to ethical concerns, environmental policies, or the likelihood that renewable energy will outprice fossil fuels over the proposed life of the mine. The use of Australian mined coal in Indian power plants will also inevitably become economically foolhardy.[37] Both the Australian and Queensland governments should not continue to support this proposal as it will create few lasting jobs and crucially it will increase the loss of human life and burden of disease locally and abroad. Many of our regional neighbours are already suffering from the effects of climate change. Bangladesh has experienced increased temperatures, swollen rivers and sea level rises; all which threaten infrastructure, livelihoods and homes and undermining the region’s development. [35] Climate change is now making cyclones on many of our neighbouring Pacific Islands even more powerful and destructive. In 2016, Tropical Cyclone Winston hit Fiji, affecting more than half a million people and decreasing its national GDP by one-fifth.[36] As a developed nation, our government has a responsibility to contribute to the prosperity, safety and health of our region by supporting these developing nations. This begins with reducing our carbon footprint by stopping the expansion of our fossil fuel industry, including the proposed Carmichael coal mine. The climate impacts of the proposed Carmichael coal mine go against Australia’s international commitment to promote a sustainable future by limiting increases in global temperatures. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) promotes the work of the Paris Agreement to limit a global temperature rise this century to below 2°C above pre-industrial levels. [27] Many of our regional neighbours do not believe this goes far enough. The “1point5toStayAlive” movement by the Caribbean and their partner states is fighting to The continued approval of Adani’s Carmichael mine by the Australian and Queensland governments is unwise as the economic return on taxpayer investment 23
is questionable. The Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF) has proposed a $1 billion AUD loan to Adani for the North Galilee Basin Rail Project – a 310km rail link from the mine site to the Abbot Point export terminal. Despite widespread coverage, little information was publicly available at the time of writing; only four documents were published on NAIF’s website, with none focussing explicitly on coal mining in the Galilee Basin. [38-41] Both Adani and the former Minister for Resources and Northern Development have suggested that the loan is “not critical” and consequently the mine should be ineligible for NAIF funding.[42] Other requirements for NAIF funding include public benefit and commercial viability, both of which are questionable.[42] Adani continues to claim that the Carmichael mine will create 10,000 direct and indirect jobs. However, reef industries threatened by the mine provide approximately 69,000 jobs.[43] The proposed “10,000 jobs” is even more questionable because Adani has, under oath, stated only 1,464 jobs will be created.[42] A loan of this magnitude seems wasteful for taxpayers. In September 2016, the Minister for Resources and Northern Australia Matthew Canavan stated that opening the Galilee Basin for coal mining would “not damage the environment”.[38] The political mismanagement and fabrications surrounding the Carmichael mine site are a disservice to Australian taxpayers. The lifespan of the proposed Carmichael coal mine is 60 years.[2] Australian coal is expected to be burnt in India, a country where the Power Minister plans to ban coal imports. India’s draft National Electricity plan states that until 2022, India will not require an increase of coal from its current rate of supply.[44] India is also a signatory to the Paris Agreement and has declared commitment to utilising emerging “cleaner sources of energy” as they become feasible.[45] The long term profitability of Adani’s Carmichael coal mine is even more questionable as there is growing public discontent in India with coalbased power sources and its resulting air pollution. Whilst there was an absolute increase in the use of coal in India, renewable generation grew at over six times the rate of conventional sources. Between April-October 2016, 28% of Indian energy production came from renewable resources.[44] This demonstrates that the global trend towards increasing utilisation of renewable energy sources is extending to India and the coal industry is declining. The United Nations (UN) recognises that climate change is a threat to human health and rights.[4] In 2016, Australia ratified the Paris Agreement with a declaration to work towards combatting climate change. Yet due to the export nature of the proposed Adani Carmichael coal mine, these Australian sourced emissions will not count as part of our Intended Nationally Determined Contributions. The UN’s Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) stated that Australia’s increasing carbon footprint is “at risk of worsening in the coming years”[46] which would undermine the vision of the Paris Agreement and its predecessor, the Kyoto Protocol, both of which we are signatories to. The CESCR’s panel of international human rights experts has recommended Australian politicians “review (their) position in support of coal mines and coal export”.[46] In light of the USA’s recent withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, it is of increased importance for Australia and other developed countries to consider the impact of our carbon footprint beyond our national border. Conclusion The real cost of Australia enabling the continuing burning of coal will be measured in health impacts, hunger and humanitarian disasters. Therefore, the Australian and Queensland governments must act now to preserve the health of Australian and global citizens into the future. The medical profession has a long and proud history of protecting public health. We must add our voices to the wave of protest to stop the construction of the world’s largest coal mine, and for the sake of our patients’ health, to make coal history. Acknowledgements Doctors for the Environment Australia Photo credit Julian Meehan, accessed from https://www.flickr.com/ photos/takver/31283359832 Conflict of Interest None declared Correspondance evan.morgan@my.jcu.edu.au References 1. Queensland Government. Carmichael coal mine and rail project [Internet]. Brisbane QLD: Department of State Development; 2010 Oct 22 [updated 2017 June 19; cited 2017 Aug 28]. Available from: https://www.statedevelopment.qld. gov.au/assessments-and-approvals/carmichael-coal-mine-and-rail-project.html 2. Australian Government. Carmichael coal and rail infrastructure factsheet [Internet]. Canberra ACT: Minister for the Environment’s office; 2014 [cited 2017 Aug 28]. Available from: https://www.environment.gov.au/minister/hunt/2014/pubs/ mr20140728-factsheet.pdf 3. Amos, C. Carmichael in context [Internet]. Canberra ACT: The Australia Institute; 2015 [cited 2017 Aug 28]. Available from: http://www.tai.org.au/content/ carmichael-context 4. World Health Organisation. WHO calls for urgent action to protect health from climate change [Internet]. Geneva Switzerland: World Health Organisation; 2015 [cited 2017 Aug 28]. Available from: http://www.who.int/globalchange/globalcampaign/cop21/en/ 5. McCall, C. Australia’s new coal mine plan: a “public health disaster”. Lancet [Internet]. 2017 Feb 11[cited 2017 Aug 28];389(10069):p588. Available from: http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140- 6736(17)30329-X/fulltext 6. McGrath, C. Carmichael coal mine cases in the Land Court and Supreme Court of Qld [Internet]. Brisbane QLD: Environmental Law Australia; 2010 [updated 2017 Aug 25; cited 2017 Aug 28]. Available from: http://envlaw.com.au/carmichaelcoal-mine-case/ 7. Portier C, Thigpen Tart K. A human health perspective on climate change [Internet]. North Carolina, USA: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences; 2010 Apr 22 [cited 2017 Oct 15]. 80p. Available from: https://www.niehs. nih.gov/health/materials/a_human_health_perspective_on_climate_change_ full_report_508.pdf 8. Dennekamp M, Carey M. Air quality and chronic disease: why action on climate change is also good for health. NSW Public Health Bulletin. 2010 July 16 [cited 2017 Oct 20]; 21(6): 115-121. Available from: http://www.publish.csiro.au/ NB/NB10026 9. State of the Environment 2011 Committee. Australia State of the environment 2011 [Internet]. Canberra, ACT: Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities; 2011 [cited 2017 Oct 20]. 940p. Available from: https://soe.environment.gov.au/sites/g/files/net806/f/soe2011- report-complete.pdf?v=1488164460 10. Yang Q, Chen Y, Shi Y, Burnett R, McGrail K, Krewski D. Association between ozone and respiratory admissions among children and the elderly in Vancouver, Canada. Inhal Toxicol [Internet]. 2003 Nov [cited 2017 Oct 20]; 15(13): 24
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Page 9 and 10: Individual and interpersonal While
Page 11 and 12: LGBTQIA+ individuals is topical. LG
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Page 19 and 20: foreign policy motives has undermin
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