As coal trains roll back into Newcastle today after being shut down by last week's storm, Rising Tide Newcastle has linked the disastrous storm with the region's export coal industry.

“Freak weather disasters like this are becoming more fierce and more frequent due to climate change, which is fuelled in part by Newcastle coal exports”, said Steve Phillips from Rising Tide. “As coal exports in Newcastle return to business as usual, we can expect to see more and more disasters like this in the future.”

“While it is impossible to pin the blame for any particular weather event on human-fuelled climate change, we know for sure that freak weather events like this are increasing in both frequency and intensity around the globe”, said Phillips. “We know that the situation stands to get much worse, and that action to reduce fossil fuel consumption – the primary cause of climate change – must be taken now. If we fail to act against coal, we are condemning ourselves and others to an unliveable climate.”

Rising Tide are involved in a determined community campaign to stop plans by governments and coal companies to double coal exports from Newcastle – already the world's busiest coal port.

“It is reckless and wanton to even consider expanding Newcastle coal exports when we know the damage that it will cause. Governments and the coal lobby are endangering human and non-human life, by ignoring climate change and pushing ahead with their short sighted and selfish agenda. Increasing coal exports would have a direct impact on global climate change, and would cost lives.”

“Coal exports have done enough damage. It is time to scrap plans to double Newcastle coal exports, and put in place plans for a just transition away from coal for NSW, into a sustainable future.”