Australia exports coal for thermal (coal-fired power stations) and metallurgical (coking coal) uses to countries such as Japan, China and India.
The following table summaries these coal exports:
| 2007 | 2008 | CO2 emissions | |
| Thermal coal (mt) | 112 | 120 | 288 |
| Coking coal (mt) | 135 | 140 | 238 |
| Totals | 260 | 525 |
Source: ABARE June 08
With a population of 21.4 million people in Australia, coal exports equate to carbon emissions 24.6 tonnes per annum per person.
Australia coal exports are worth $55 billion per annum.
These figures are not counted as part of Australia’s emissions under either Kyoto or UNFCCC.
This raises so many questions about our Australia’s responsibility, such as:
How can politicians in Australia criticise China and India as major emitters, and justify this for not pursuing our Kyoto responsibility. Australia, the largest exporter of coal in the world , is selling them the coal they are burning.
The United States is a large coal user domestically, but actually much lower exporter.
See also
