Knitting Nannas have been campaigning against new coal mines in the Hunter, the Illawarra and near Narrabri for many years. However, new mines and extensions to existing mines continue to be proposed and approved. Knitting Nannas main concerns are:
New Coal Mines
Currently 26 proposals for new or expanded coal mines are waiting for Federal Government approval. Track coal mine proposals at Coal Mine Tracker – The Australia Institute.
Lock the Gate Alliance reports that there are eight new mines and extensions proposed in NSW that are likely to be assessed this year.
Coal Ash Dams
Coal ash accounts for nearly one-fifth of the entire nation’s waste stream. Coal ash is currently stored in dams. The high concentrations of heavy metals in the coal ash leach into waterways. There are solutions: lithium in the coal ash can be recycled; coal ash could be used in concrete and drywall production. There is minimal recycling of coal ash at present.
Coal ash has become one of Australia’s biggest waste problems and a solution is being ignored | ABC News
Coal ash and coal ash repositories | NSW EPA
Coal-ash Community Alliance Lake Macquarie – Central Coast
Health
Coal emits more nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide, CO2, heavy metals, and particulate matter per unit of energy than any other fuel sources. To learn more:
Coal as an energy source and its impacts on human health | Elsevier Enhanced Reader
Methane
In 2019, Australian Coal Mines released 68% of Australia’s methane emissions from the energy industry overall, making coal mines a larger contributor than both oil and gas. Given emissions are underreported they are probably significantly higher than this. Further information:
Tackling Australia’s Coal Mine Methane Problem | Ember (There is an excellent 2 page summary under Downloads.)
Water
Coal-fired power stations in NSW and Queensland consume 383 billion litres of fresh water annually, 120 times the water used by wind and solar to generate the same amount of electricity. This is equivalent to the annual water use of 5.2 million people, equal to the water needs of a city the size of Sydney. Most water consumed by coal mines cannot be reused. Lack of transparency about how much water Australia’s coal industry uses makes the monitoring of sustainable water management very difficult, this needs to change. The full report Water for Coal by Ian Overton, Adjunct Associate Professor in Water Resources at the University of Adelaide can be downloaded at: Water for coal| Australian Conservation Foundation
Or a three paged abridged version: Water is vital for life. Coal is taking too much|Australian Conservation Foundation
Scope 3 Emissions
Most political debates fail to acknowledge Australia’s contribution to global warming from coal and gas exports – our Scope 3 emissions. Australia is the world’s third biggest exporter of fossil fuels, which when burnt overseas make a contribution to global warming many, many times greater than Scope 1 and 2 emissions (domestic emissions). Emissions reduction targets are about domestic emissions only because of an international agreement about how emissions are counted. It is important that Nannas help to break the silence about this and Australia’s expanding contribution to global warming in our actions and publications.
Support Other Groups’ Actions
Rising Tide in Newcastle
Rising Tides Coal Blockade will be held on the 25th – 26th November.
Take the Climate Defence Pledge | Rising Tide
Move Beyond Coal Campaigns
For example, the Banking Climate Failure report is due out on 30th May. An action is to deliver a copy of this report to your local NAB branch. Resources are here.
Denman Aberdeen Scone Muswellbrook Healthy Environment Group
Challenging Mount Pleasant expansion over concerns for climate and legless lizards. ABC News
Knitting Nanna Loop Actions
All Nannas agreed we need to support each Loops’ initiatives such as petition signing.
Illawarra – suggested an action near their coal loader – important to support the workers in a just transition.
Gloucester have a petition to the federal parliament to stop funding fossil fuels and to fund renewables instead. They find a paper petition is a good way to approach people in the street and to start a conversation. Several Nannas took sheets to sign and return.
Gloucester, Mid-Coast and Hunter Nannas conduct Pacific solidarity Knit-In actions on the first Friday of each month between 11am – 12pm at the office of Federal Member for Shortland and Minister for the Pacific, Pat Conroy – 1a/571 Pacific Hwy, Belmont. Next Knit-In June 2nd.
Lismore action days are on Thursdays and Forest days Friday.
Sydney – no fixed action days – see events calendar
Suggested Future Events
Coordinated coal action at local MPs offices
- A coordinated event on the same day at each of the Loops’ local MPs offices
- Target a specific coal mining issue – for example Methane underreporting – very controversial and not well known.
- All issues identified above could also be pointed out.
- Share photos of each Nanna loops action to show Nannas across the state are united on the No New Coal front, and post on all Nanna Loop’s Social Media.
- Find a day that suits all Loops.
- Write a standard letter to present to the MPs on the day
Visit to Canberra
- Aim to highlight coal issues in front of the Federal Parliament
- Consult with Move Beyond Coal and Lock the Gate – are there any plans afoot, what they’d suggest if we do this etc.
- Consult with Canberra connections and organisations able to assist with political information and advice about an action or a delegation to meet with MPs
- Meet with politicians to make the action more pointed
- Put a call out to all Nanna Loops that may know interested Nanna’s/friends residing in Canberra that we could invite to the action.
- Investigate the possibilities of a Canberra Knitting Nanna Loop
Notes
Suggest Nannas have a plain yellow T-shirt under their Nanna T-shirts so when they’re asked to remove their Nanna T-shirts at Parliamentary buildings they still can be identified as Nannas.
Image: On 16 April 130 No New Coal protesters stopped a coal train heading to the Port of Newcastle. Court attendance notices were issued to 47 people, including five Nannas who will appear in Newcastle court this Thursday. The action was part of a four day #ClimateCamp2023 in Newcastle organised by Counteract and Rising Tide Newcastle.