David Karoly of the School of Earth Sciences, Melbourne University

"Today, the owners of every coal-fired power station in Australia will receive a letter from myself and six other leading climate scientists. We have made it clear that their emissions are directly responsible, in part, for the impacts of climate change being felt in Australia and abroad. (letter attached). Our intention is to ensure the coal industry is fully accountable for their pollution and the damage it causes. Debate will continue on the fringes but, within the scientific community, there is wide and deep consensus that climate change is an unprecedented and urgent threat to the planet as we know it. We are at a key point in history and failure to act decisively now will have severe ramifications for generations to come. Coal-fired power stations are incompatible with action that reflects the urgency of climate change. As such, we have asked the recipients of the letters to have the far-sighted courage to work with our government and us to urgently replace coal-fired power plants with zero-carbon energy sources and energy efficiency programmes. As scientists, we have refrained in general from proposing policy, but when the direction we continue to take in this country is so clearly at odds with the scientific evidence, we have no choice but to speak out.

The consequences are too severe to do otherwise."

LETTER SENT TO OWNERS OF COAL POWER STATIONS IN AUSTRALIA

Dear …

We are writing to you regarding the urgent issue of climate change. We are all Closely involved in producing and reviewing climate change science and are extremely concerned about the state of the global climate system.

The warming of the atmosphere, driven by human-induced emissions of greenhouse gases, is already causing unacceptable damage and suffering around the world.

Evidence is mounting that climate change is occurring faster than previously predicted and we are perilously close to a number of tipping points which, if passed, would amplify the effects of climate change and make it much more difficult to bring
further warming under control. We cannot emphasise enough just how serious the situation has become.

As you will be aware, the burning of coal is the largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in Australia, with more than 80% of Australia’s electricity coming from coal-fired power stations.

Emissions from Australian coal-fired power stations are a small but significant contribution to total global emissions, which are directly causing sea level rise and resulting in impacts such as the flooding of coastal communities. Given the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, immediate attention needs to be given to changing the way that we use and produce energy.

The British government, recognizing the need for these changes, has just announced that no new coal-fired power stations will be built in Britain unless they capture and bury at least 25 per cent of emitted greenhouse gases immediately and 100 per cent by 2025.

Unfortunately, the development of carbon capture and storage technology is not sufficiently advanced and is unlikely to be deployable within the time frame necessary to cut emissions in order to avoid unacceptable levels of greenhouse gas concentrations and associated warming.

It is our considered view that no new coal-fired power stations, except ones that have ZERO emissions, should be allowed to be commissioned in Australia. Furthermore, we need an urgent program to replace existing coal plants with zero-carbon energy sources and energy efficiency programs as soon as possible.

We understand that this will require a significant social and economic transition that will need to be managed carefully to care for coal sector workers and coal-dependent communities and to meet Australia's energy needs both through the transition and in the longer term. However, given the climate change imperative, this transition needs to proceed with the utmost urgency.

The unfortunate reality is that genuine action on climate change will require that existing coal-fired power stations cease to operate in the near future. We feel it is vital that you understand this and we are happy to work with you and with governments to begin planning for this transition immediately.

Yours sincerely,

• David Karoly. Professor, University of Melbourne and Lead Author, IPCC Fourth Assessment Report
• Barry Brook. Sir Hubert Wilkins Chair of Climate Change, University of Adelaide
• Karl Braganza. Climate scientist, Melbourne
• Matthew England. Professor and Co-Director, Climate Change Research Centre, University of New South Wales
• Ann Henderson-Sellers, Professor, Macquarie University and immediate past Director of the World Climate Research Programme
• Lesley Hughes, Professor, Macquarie University and Lead Author, IPCC Fourth Assessment Report
• Barrie Pittock, Lead Author, IPCC Fourth Assessment Report
29.4.2009

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Communicated by Andrew Glikson