With nuclear energy pushed into the background once again, the Government is now turning to (or rather continuing to expand) the coal industry as a solution to climate change under the guise of "clean coal technology".

Coal is a highly polluting energy source. It emits much more carbon per unit of energy than oil, and natural gas. CO2 represents the major portion of greenhouse gases. It is, therefore, one of the leading contributors to climate change. From mine to sky, from extraction to combustion - coal pollutes every step of the way.

The environmental and social costs associated with coal usage make it an expensive option for developing countries. From acid drainage from coal mines, polluting rivers and streams, to the release of mercury and other toxins and fine particulates that cause respiratory problems when it is burned, coal is unquestionably, a dirty business.

Coal is a major contributor to climate change. It is the most carbon-intensive fossil fuel, emitting 29% more than oil, 80% more carbon dioxide (the main driver of climate change) per unit of energy than gas.

Mercury is a particular problem. According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), mercury and its compounds are highly toxic and pose a 'global environmental threat to humans and wildlife.' Coal-fired power and heat production are the largest single source of atmospheric mercury emissions. There are no commercially available technologies to prevent mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants.

Clean Coal
"Clean coal" is the industry's attempt to "clean up" its dirty image - the industry's greenwash buzzword. It is not a new type of coal. "Clean coal" technology (CCT) refers to technologies intended to reduce pollution. But no coal-fired power plants are truly "clean". "Clean coal" methods only move pollutants from one waste stream to another which are then still released into the environment. Any time coal is burnt, contaminants are released and they have to go somewhere. They can be released via the fly ash, the gaseous air emissions, water outflow or the ash left at the bottom after burning. Ultimately, they still end up polluting the environment.

Despite over 10 years of research and $5.2 billion of investment in the US alone, scientists are still unable to make coal clean. The Australian government spends A$0.5 million annually to promote Australia's 'clean coal' to the Asia Pacific region. 'Clean coal' technologies are expensive and do nothing to mitigate the environmental effects of coal mining or the devastating effects of global warming. Furthermore, clean coal research risks diverting investment away from renewable energy, which is available to reduce greenhouse gas emissions now.

The first CCT programs were set up in the late 1980s in response to concerns over acid rain. The programs focused on reducing emissions of sulphur dioxide (SO2) and oxides of nitrogen (NOX), the primary causes of acid rain. Now the elusive promise of 'clean coal' technology is being used to promote coal as an energy source.

THE ALTERNATIVE
Much higher emission cuts can be made using currently available natural gas, wind and modern biomass that are already in widespread use and are clean and relatively inexpensive. This is where investment should be directed, rather than squandering valuable resources on a dirty dinosaur.

(information from Greenpeace)

> dowload Corporate Watch report on Victoria's new HRL coal fired power station
> dowload Gardian (UK) article on clean coal