Australian taxpayers subsidise Big Mining’s use of fossil fuel to the tune of $4bn a year. It’s a strange way to tackle emissions | Adam Morton
SkimNews Take
The significant scale of Australian fossil fuel subsidies to mining operations effectively disincentivizes the very decarbonization investments many companies have already approved.
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- BHP cancelled a board‑approved solar farm and delayed a larger solar‑wind‑battery project for at least five years.
- BHP doubled down on diesel‑powered trucks, contradicting its promise to switch to electric vehicles powered by renewable energy.
- BHP estimates its full decarbonisation will cost US$7.5bn over 25 years, a sum its Western Australian operations generate in less than six months.
- Rio Tinto cut spending on emissions‑reduction projects and disbanded its specialist decarbonisation unit.
- InfluenceMap ranks BHP as the 31st biggest cumulative contributor to the climate crisis and the 10th among privately owned firms, responsible for over 11bn tonnes of CO₂.
Why it matters: Australian taxpayers lose billions as BHP stalls climate projects, while the $7.5bn decarbonisation budget is earned in less than six months, delaying emissions cuts and undermining national climate targets.
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