Emissions Blowout Flagged If Coal, Gas Extended: Government

Emissions from coal and gas could grow by 1.7 billion tonnes by 2050 if their use is extended another 15 years, according to analysis from the federal government. The government evaluated data from the 2024 Integrated System Plan by the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), which provides a road map for Australia’s energy transition for the national energy market. If coal and gas were extended to 2040 and paved the way for the coalition’s nuclear energy plan, the additional CO2-equivalent emissions created would be almost four times Australia’s current output, the government said. The output would be the equivalent of keeping all of Australia’s cars on the road for another 40 years or having the nation’s most polluting plant—Hazelwood in Victoria—run for 106 years....