Coal use accounts for about 40% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions from energy and industrial processes. Eminent climate scientist James Hansen considers that global coal emissions have to cease by 2030 for the world to have a chance of returning to save levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. As one of the top 10 coal producers and consumers Australia has a huge responsibility in the world’s quest to move ‘beyond coal’. Domestically it is our biggest single source of emissions because of our reliance on coal-fired electricity and directly burning coal for industry. So-called ‘fugitive emissions’ — gas leaking from coal mines — are another rapidly growing source of emissions.
The Butterfly Project aims to tackle emissions from electricity use. Thousands of people are already saving electricity and switching to renewables. We aim to count how many and how much.
Join the Butterfly Project and start saving your electricity bills to contribute information when phase 2 of the project begins in mid-year. If you are involved with a climate action group, send its details for inclusion on the Butterfly web page.
