まずはこの2月の記事。
BBC Australia blocks coal mine to protect Great Barrier Reef 8 Feb 2023 By Tiffanie Turnbull
連邦政府がとある石炭鉱山の開発許可を出さなかった。これは連邦レベルでは最初のことという。
「For the first time in history, Australia has blocked the creation of a coal mine under environmental laws.
The government on Thursday rejected a proposal for a new mine about 10km (6.2 miles) from the Great Barrier Reef.」
そりゃまあ、重要観光地（グレートバリアリーフ）に10kmの位置に炭鉱を掘りたくはないだろうなあ。
「The mine's owner, the controversial Australian billionaire Clive Palmer, has not yet responded to the rejection.
His firm, Central Queensland Coal, had proposed to build an open-cut mine about 700km north-west of Brisbane, that would produce both thermal and coking coal and operate for about 20 years.」
そのグレートバリアリーフはここ6年ほどサンゴの白化現象になやまされており―。
「The Great Barrier Reef - the world's largest coral reef system - has suffered four mass bleachings in the past six years due to rising sea temperatures and its outlook is "very poor", authorities say.」
…いつかこの天然記念物を諦める日が来るんだろうか。まあ半世紀ほどすれば温暖化の一定の限界が来るかもしれず、それから一世紀ほどもすればまた多少落ち着くかもしれないが。
「Australia is a major global supplier of fossil fuels. When exports are factored in, the country accounts for producing 3.6% of the world's emissions, but with only 0.3% of the world's population.
While the new government has significantly increased Australia's 2030 emissions reduction target, it has also said it will approve any new fossil fuel projects that make commercial sense.」
ともあれオーストラリアは全世界の人口0.3％ほどを占めるそうだが、しかしCO2エミッションは3.6％ほどの責任をもつのだとか。12倍規模か。まあ、多少、控えたらどうだろう―という気になるのも尤もなことか。まあ、まあ、本邦もあまり言えた義理ではないだろうが。
で、5月の記事である。今度は停止命令を出さなかった。
BBC Australian government approves first new coal mine since elected 12 May 2023 By Tiffanie Turnbull
「The Australian government has approved a new coal mine for the first time since it was elected - on a climate action platform - last year.
The government was bound by national environment laws when considering Central Queensland's Isaac River coal mine, a spokeswoman said.
Only one coal mine proposal has ever been blocked under those laws.」
「The Isaac River coal mine - which will be built near Moranbah, an 11-hour drive north of Brisbane - is expected to produce about 2.5 million tonnes of coal over five years.
The mine will extract metallurgical coal, also known as coking coal, which is used in steelmaking.」
Greensとしては、これは環境法が骨抜きである証拠！というわけだが、まあねえ、微妙なバランスの問題でもあるよねえ…。
「Greens environment spokeswoman Sarah Hanson-Young said the decision demonstrated a need for reform.
"Australia's environment laws are clearly broken. Polluting projects are failing to be assessed for the emissions they create," she said.」
BBC Australia blocks coal mine to protect Great Barrier Reef 8 Feb 2023 By Tiffanie Turnbull
連邦政府がとある石炭鉱山の開発許可を出さなかった。これは連邦レベルでは最初のことという。
「For the first time in history, Australia has blocked the creation of a coal mine under environmental laws.
The government on Thursday rejected a proposal for a new mine about 10km (6.2 miles) from the Great Barrier Reef.」
そりゃまあ、重要観光地（グレートバリアリーフ）に10kmの位置に炭鉱を掘りたくはないだろうなあ。
「The mine's owner, the controversial Australian billionaire Clive Palmer, has not yet responded to the rejection.
His firm, Central Queensland Coal, had proposed to build an open-cut mine about 700km north-west of Brisbane, that would produce both thermal and coking coal and operate for about 20 years.」
そのグレートバリアリーフはここ6年ほどサンゴの白化現象になやまされており―。
「The Great Barrier Reef - the world's largest coral reef system - has suffered four mass bleachings in the past six years due to rising sea temperatures and its outlook is "very poor", authorities say.」
…いつかこの天然記念物を諦める日が来るんだろうか。まあ半世紀ほどすれば温暖化の一定の限界が来るかもしれず、それから一世紀ほどもすればまた多少落ち着くかもしれないが。
「Australia is a major global supplier of fossil fuels. When exports are factored in, the country accounts for producing 3.6% of the world's emissions, but with only 0.3% of the world's population.
While the new government has significantly increased Australia's 2030 emissions reduction target, it has also said it will approve any new fossil fuel projects that make commercial sense.」
ともあれオーストラリアは全世界の人口0.3％ほどを占めるそうだが、しかしCO2エミッションは3.6％ほどの責任をもつのだとか。12倍規模か。まあ、多少、控えたらどうだろう―という気になるのも尤もなことか。まあ、まあ、本邦もあまり言えた義理ではないだろうが。
で、5月の記事である。今度は停止命令を出さなかった。
BBC Australian government approves first new coal mine since elected 12 May 2023 By Tiffanie Turnbull
「The Australian government has approved a new coal mine for the first time since it was elected - on a climate action platform - last year.
The government was bound by national environment laws when considering Central Queensland's Isaac River coal mine, a spokeswoman said.
Only one coal mine proposal has ever been blocked under those laws.」
「The Isaac River coal mine - which will be built near Moranbah, an 11-hour drive north of Brisbane - is expected to produce about 2.5 million tonnes of coal over five years.
The mine will extract metallurgical coal, also known as coking coal, which is used in steelmaking.」
Greensとしては、これは環境法が骨抜きである証拠！というわけだが、まあねえ、微妙なバランスの問題でもあるよねえ…。
「Greens environment spokeswoman Sarah Hanson-Young said the decision demonstrated a need for reform.
"Australia's environment laws are clearly broken. Polluting projects are failing to be assessed for the emissions they create," she said.」
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