Is Australia Doing Enough to Reduce its Carbon Footprint?

A new environmental audit has Australia on the hot seat for its extreme carbon emissions due to their extreme reliance on coal.

Nearly a quarter of their mammal species are considered threatened in Australia for extinction, according to Oliver Milman. Australia has poor air quality due to high concentration of nitrogen and sulphur oxides compared to other nations. Both substances have been linked to soil and water acidification and respiratory illnesses.

The combination of black and brown coal provides more than 75% of Australia's electricity. "Coal is one of the main reasons that Australia enjoys some of the cheapest electricity prices..." according to the Australian Coal Association website.

Coal may be the cheapest electricity in the short term, but in terms of the extreme environmental and health problems that arise from such a dirt and nonrenewable source, it may be the most expensive.

Hazelwood Power Station in the La Trobe Valley in Victoria's south-east. Image Courtesy of Simon Cullen's story on Australia's government scrapping plans to shut down dirty power stations.