Effects of greenhouse gas emissions can't be ignored
01 Nov 2004
For the first time in Australia's history a Tribunal has required full consideration of greenhouse gas pollution from a power station. The case sets a powerful legal precedent that may have implications for planning authorities around Australia.
The Victorian Civil and Administration Tribunal has been considering the greenhouse gas implications of expanding the Hazelwood power station in the Latrobe Valley, Victoria.
Today's decision found an Expert Planning Panel should not have been directed by the Planning Minister to ignore the greenhouse gas pollution issues involved with expanding a power station. The decision means the Planning Panel will now have to reconvene and consider the effects of greenhouse pollution from expanding Hazelwood.
The legal decision is being welcomed as an important national first in reducing the pollution that causes climate change.
"We are pleased with the ruling. It's a move in the right direction. The next step needs to be a national law that requires all major developments to be assessed for their greenhouse emissions before approval," says WWF-Australia Climate Change Manager, Anna Reynolds.
Currently power stations are the biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Australia but their greenhouse emissions aren't substantially regulated, nor are greenhouse gases explicitly required considerations in any Australian planning approval processes.
"Today's decision is a victory for cleaner sources of energy. We see this decision clearly pointing to the need to take greenhouse gas pollution into account in all planning decisions," said Coordinator of Climate Action Network Australia, Julie Anne Richards.
"The Tribunals decision, is positive because planning authorities now have to at least consider submissions on greenhouse pollution and climate change. From now on the Victorian community can have their voices heard on greenhouse issues in planning approvals," said ACF Law & Corporate Responsibility Coordinator, Charles Berger.
"This decision vindicates our deep concerns that we can not afford to ignore the damaging levels of greenhouse pollution. It is a win in the battle against global warming," said Environment Victoria Executive Director, Marcus Godinho.
Environment groups launched the legal action because Australia's future energy needs are better met from cleaner energy sources already available and reductions in demand rather than increases in highly polluting sources such as brown coal. The Clean Energy Future for Australia study 2004 (commissioned by six energy industry associations and WWF) found there are sufficient clean energy resources available today to deliver Australia's energy needs and result in a cut of greenhouse emissions by 50 per cent by 2040.
Contacts
Anna Reynolds
WWF-Australia Climate Change Manager 0419 547 217
Marcus Godinho
Environment Victoria Executive Director 0411 634 916
Charles Berger
ACF Law & Corporate Responsibility Coordinator 0419 134 913
Julieanne Richards Coordinator
Climate Action network Australia 0407 227 633
About Hazelwood Power Station
- Hazelwood power station is a 1950s brown coal-fired power station that produces more than 17 million tonnes of carbon dioxide every year.
- When Hazelwood was Government owned it was identified for closure in 2005. The new owners, London based International Power plc and the Commonwealth bank Group, have enough coal to keep the plant operating until 2022.
- If the expansion plans had been approved the power station could stay open until 2031, generating an extra 159 million tonnes of greenhouse pollution.
