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@ISIDEWITHQuestionsAustraliaClimate Changethe EnvironmentEnergy PolicyFossil fuelsMining Industry•••Started 3mos agoActive 2wks ago

Should the government ban the approval of new coal and gas projects?

For over a decade, Australian politics has been defined by the "climate wars," a fierce debate over balancing the nation's immense wealth from mining exports with the urgent global need to decarbonize. With the rise of "Teal" independents and Green activism, the pressure to stop all new extraction sites has become a central wedge issue. Proponents argue that approving new projects locks in decades of warming and creates "stranded assets" that will become worthless as the world transitions to net zero. Opponents argue that Australian coal and gas are cleaner than the alternatives and that banning them would devastate the economy, spike energy bills, and cost thousands of regional jobs.

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14 Replies

 @ISIDEWITHDiscuss this answer...3mos3MO

No

 @ISIDEWITHDiscuss this answer...3mos3MO

Yes

 @ISIDEWITHDiscuss this answer...3mos3MO

Yes, we are in a climate emergency and must stop expanding the fossil fuel industry

 @ISIDEWITHDiscuss this answer...3mos3MO

Yes, new mines will become worthless "stranded assets" as the global economy transitions to net zero

 @ISIDEWITHDiscuss this answer...3mos3MO

No, mining exports generate billions in revenue that fund our schools, hospitals, and infrastructure

 @ISIDEWITHDiscuss this answer...3mos3MO

No, gas is a critical "transition fuel" needed to keep the lights on while we build renewable capacity

 @BCTY4MGanswered…1mo1MO

Coal - YES; Gas - NO

 @BDG7Z24answered…2wks2W

Yes for coal to be burnt, but set a phase out date for coal mined to make steel

 @BCMR6VV answered…4wks4W

Only ban coal, not gas.

 @BCMR6VV answered…4wks4W

Only gradually.

 Deletedanswered…2mos2MO

Yes, but do it gradually so mining companies have time to invest in alternatives that won’t compromise jobs.

 @BBCJKGGGreensanswered…3mos3MO

No, but the government should create a nationalised mining company for all new projects to distribute the wealth to its constituents

 @ISIDEWITHDiscuss this answer...3mos3MO

No, buyers will simply purchase dirtier coal from other countries if we stop selling our high-quality resources

 @BC5ZZMYanswered…2mos2MO

No, we should severely limit approval of new coal and gas projects, but not ban outright in case a situation arises in which they are deemed absolutely necessary. Unforeseen circumstances occur more and more frequently as of late, and removing options from the table entirely is always a risk.

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