WENDELL HUSSEY | Cadet | CONTACT

Federal Environment Minister Melissa Price has put some of her extensive scientific knowledge to good use today by calling bullshit on the recent report released by the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

The report claims that world greenhouse gas emissions must reach zero by 2050 if we are to ensure that Global Warming is halted at 1.5 degrees. If this wasn’t to happen the planet could warm by 2 degrees which would be a “tipping point.”

The forming mining sector employee argued this morning that some of the world’s leading climate scientists are “drawing a long bow” in calling for an end to coal power to limit global warming.

After graduating as a lawyer, Price spent nearly 20 years working in the mining sector across a variety of commercial and legal roles before moving into politics.

Price told The Advocate today that this background has been invaluable, and taught her more about climate science than any of these ‘scientists’ who have spent their entire careers in the field.

“These 91 scientists behind the report got it wrong,” she said.

“They clearly don’t understand that Australia is coal country. And that means that coal can’t be contributing to climate change. It’s simple when you think about it really. I’m not sure why we spend so much times on these things.”

Price then explained to us that it confuses her and a lot of her colleagues why these scientists who have no ulterior motives or political agendas would continually keep trying to damage coal’s brand.

“It’s like a big clean energy conspiracy,” she said.

“And the world is not going to warm beyond repair, that’s all rubbish. And even if it is true, it’s not worth paying an extra few hundred dollars a year per home to ensure that the world is not sent towards environmental ruin. Not on my watch anyway.”

“Besides, if we were to stop using coal, how would I land a plum job after my political career spruiking the interests of the mining industry.”

More to come.