BEHIND THE GREENWASH
AUSTRALIA’S BIGGEST CLIMATE POLLUTER
AGL wants us to believe that it is a clean and green company. Its website is full of images of shiny solar panels and wind turbines and the CEO tours the globe talking about climate action.
In fact, it is neck deep in the dirty energy business.
Not only is AGL Australia’s single largest polluter, but its carbon emissions increased more than 92% in 2014-2015 and the company continues to invest in the fossil fuels that are destroying our climate, communities and ecosystems.
To learn more, check out our Alternative AGL Annual Report.
IT’S TIME FOR A FOSSIL FREE AGL
Coal Facts
32 years
The number of years AGL plans to keep their coal power stations open. This plan actually extends the lifetime of these plants — locking in three more decades of climate pollution.
$2.6 BILLION
Toxic emissions from coal fired power damages people’s health and is known to cause breathing, heart and nervous system diseases — costing the Australian economy around $2.6 billion annually.
3 OF 8
AGL owns three of the eight dirtiest coal fired power stations in the country – Loy Yang in Victoria and Liddell and Bayswater in New South Wales.
OVER 80%
Amount of AGL’s power that comes from coal.This percentage has increased significantly in recent years due to the purchase of two NSW power plants.
Gas Facts
LESS THAN 200m
Is the distance of AGL coal seam gas wells from houses in Camden, Sydney. The wells have been found to be leaking methane on numerous occasions.
WA GAS EXPANSION
AGL is currently considering a bid for Alinta, a massive gas company in Western Australia that is linked to the expansion of unconventional gas and fracking in the state’s mid-west farming region.
HEALTH IMPACTS
Families living close to Camden gas field, NSW’s largest, regularly report health complaints including non-stop blood noses, headaches, itching eyes and respiratory problems. Children are at particular risk due to their unique vulnerability to hazardous chemicals.
Cosy political relationships
They’ve bought influence
AGL made more than $45,000 in undisclosed political donations to the Labor, Liberal and National parties between 2010 and 2012 as the NSW Government considered its controversial Gloucester coal seam gas project. In February 2016 AGL was found guilty of failing to disclose those political donations.
A free ride
Thanks to the inaction of federal and state governments, AGL’s power plants are being effectively subsidised to the tune of $2.5 billion. Australia’s largest polluter gets a free ride for its carbon pollution — and taxpayers are footing the bill.
And this system encourages a revolving door
between AGL and the political class
Numerous politicians, political advisors and government officials have joined AGL over the past few years. Some of AGL’s top executives have made their own shift in to the political sphere.