World renowned scientists and economists expressed their support for the call of Kiribati President Anote Tong to establish a global moratorium on new coal mines as a “concrete step” to achieve a decarbonised world economy. The Kiribati president fears that countries with large coal reserves are aiming for large expansions of coal production, despite world negotiations for a deal to reduce emissions.

An open letter from Tong, supporting No New Coal Mines, stated that the plans to increase coal production would produce new coal emissions, which are “incompatible with tackling the threat of climate change.”

Kiribati is part of Pacific Island nations that are vulnerable to impact of climate change, caused by carbon emissions. Low-lying Pacific countries are at risk of being swamped by the increasing sea levels.

“The scientific evidence is clear: to prevent severe and potentially catastrophic damage to human health, economic development and global stability, the world must as soon as possible start using less coal,” Tong said.

“A moratorium on new coal mines would be an immediate and concrete step towards [decarbonising] the world economy,” he added. “A word that is tackling climate change needs fewer mines, not more.”

There are already a number of signatories from countries supporting the proposition. These countries believe that there’s an economic, scientific and common sense to stop the expansion of coal mines.

Experts who signed the letter for the moratorium include former NASA Goddard Institute Director Dr James Hansen, Dr David Suzuki, Nobel Laureate in economics, Professor Kenneth Arrow, Professor Hans Joachim Schellnhuber and Ian Dunlop. They have joined 52 scientists, economists and other experts aiming to stop building new coal mines ahead of the Paris Climate Summit.

“The world will not succeed in keeping temperature rise under 2 degrees if it continues to construct new coal mines,” said Richard Denniss, chief economist at The Australia Institute. In Australia, massive expansion of coal mining and exports would contradict the claims that the country is interested in combatting climate change, he added.

Tong, during a recent visit to Australia, noted that he is not suggesting for an immediate stop to the use of coal. But for the transition to clean energy, the world needs to review the decisions to open new coal mines, he said in an interview with Michael Brissenden of ABC AM.

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