Australia's Exports Of Coal Hit All-Time High For Any Quarter On Record; 57 Million Tons/146 Million Tons Of CO2

Labor and the Coalition have been accused of going to the election on a “unity ticket” ignoring Australia’s main contribution to the climate crisis after a report revealed thermal coal exports reached record levels in the final quarter last year. Government data shows the country shipped a record amount – 57m tonnes – of coal for burning in overseas power plants between October and December. It is the highest recorded for a three-month period.

Australia is the world’s second-largest exporter of thermal coal, behind Indonesia. It exported 209m tonnes during 2024, the second-highest amount for a calendar year. The data from the Department of Industry, Science and Resources was released during an election campaign in which the major parties have debated the future mix of the electricity grid, but which has been largely not focused on the impact of the climate crisis.

Labor has announced one new climate policy – a subsidy for household batteries. The Coalition has not released plans to cut emissions over the next decade, and has pledged to unwind or scrap several Labor policies introduced to cut climate pollution. Neither has discussed Australia’s fossil fuel exports.

The head of research at the fossil fuels campaign group Lock the Gate Alliance, Georgina Woods, said global heating caused by burning fossil fuels was “already affecting Australian businesses, community wellbeing, household bills and national security” and damaging “our extraordinary natural heritage”. “It is really alarming that the country’s political leaders don’t seem to understand this threat and what it will take to protect us from escalating harm. They seem content to let the coalmining companies have their head,” she said. “Political leaders need to get tough and get real for the good of the country, and make it clear to the industry that the national interest comes first.”

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https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/may/01/labor-and-coalition-accused-of-being-on-fossil-fuel-unity-ticket-as-thermal-coal-exports-hit-record-high