Meanwhile, Australia has been preparing for a recent federal election. This contest illuminates important issues that will shape the direction of the nation’s energy sector in the coming years. Surprisingly, the nation is not wrestling with a domestic push to accelerate a global move toward lower carbon emissions. At the same time, communities in the Hunter Valley — where many coal jobs are concentrated — have an uncertain future.
Michael Holz, who spent four decades working in the Hunter Valley’s coal industry. Today, he finds himself spending his days thinking about the proposed dramatic changes that would upend his community. Located just a few hours’ drive north of Sydney, the Hunter Valley has long been a cornerstone of Australia’s coal production, providing thousands of jobs. The future is heading in a decidedly greener energy direction. This reversal leaves Holz, and thousands like her, deeply fearful for the future of their careers.
The pending shutdown of additional coal mines and coal-fired power stations are only going to make an already fragile situation worse. Australia’s political leaders are in desperate need of a Plan B. The specter of a loss of 70,000 jobs in the area remains the biggest fear. Either way, thousands of coal industry jobs are expected to evaporate in the coming few years according to estimates. In turn, communities will be left to frantically search for alternative sources of job creation.
The move away from coal isn’t just a issue for those who live nearby. It’s all to join a growing multi-national movement to tackle climate change head-on. International pressure to reduce carbon emissions has squeezed Australia’s coal industry to the breaking point. The pending changes would be wreaking environmental, cultural and economic havoc across the Hunter Valley region. This disheartening circumstance brings forth pressing questions about what lays in store for its residents.
The communities that lie within the Hunter Valley are not only undergoing an economic crisis. They’re in the middle of an identity crisis. For many, the coal industry has long been a provider of a greater social identity and collective belonging. With its decline, residents fear losing not just jobs but their entire way of life.
As candidates on both sides face these issues in the upcoming election day, solutions focus on addressing these needs in a concrete way is lacking. The residents of the Hunter Valley are looking for leadership that will navigate this transition effectively while protecting their interests and ensuring sustainable job growth.