The Pollution from Mines

Environment is under threat again. The new findings by International Energy Agency have revealed that Australian coal mines will pollute twice the erstwhile estimates. The methane emissions from the coal mines would be double than what was expected earlier and reported to the United Nations. The government in Australia must do more to cut down on emissions to avoid climate change and other environmental hazards. The new findings come amid rising global temperatures and change in environment around the world. Nature should be protected and its life given the same decorum of norms that human life has. Nature cannot be left at the mercy of emissions that are prone to destroy it. The Australian government must move towards cleaner energy rather than waste its time on emissions. Although the points of deliberation are quite worrisome. Can economies around the world function without fossil fuels? Should not mankind rely on science and clean energy to sustain and fulfil its energy needs? These are some of the important questions that require answers. The first point ought to be considered elaborately. Going by the prevalent standard of consumption, it is almost impossible to cut down emissions overnight and move towards renewable energy resources. It is a timely process and which might take years if not decades. The alarmist tendency ought to be avoided and mankind must be given respite from environmental browbeating. Environment relies on physical laws and therefore has more power to deal and adapt. On the other hand, fossil fuels can be perilous in the long run and therefore ought to be substituted by cleaner forms of energy.

Clean forms of energy needs more investment, be it nuclear power or renewable resources. All of them need considerable investment in the long run. Nuclear energy is the cleanest form of energy and therefore should be permitted more investment than what has been invested thus far. Nuclear energy has the potential to satiate the energy needs of the world.  Coming to the second point of deliberation, mankind does need to rely on science and clean energy to fulfil its energy needs. The energy needs of developed economies are immense when compared to energy needs of developing or lesser developed economies, although the latter two pay the same price for the pollution from emissions as the developed economies. Therefore it is salient that the developed economies rely on science and clean energy sources to fulfil their energy needs at the earliest possible convenience. Environment needs to be kept safe for work and high productivity. Pollution should be kept under control and not be allowed to go out of hand, and above the limits that have been prescribed. The government has a responsibility to protect its citizens, and give them a safe and healthy environment to work in. The productivity of the present is directly proportional to the safety that workers and professionals have. The government must build cleaner cities and workplaces for all. The International Energy Agency has rightly pointed out the skewed nature of coal usage and how emissions from methane can pollute Australia and our planet.    

Yuvraj Saharan

Capital Report