I’ve made a killing working the coal mines for the last 40 years. Now I’m taking a stand against the industry – here’s why

A miner who has earned “above average wages” and worked in the industry for decades is among hundreds of activists protesting fossil fuels.

Grant Howard, 60, was one of several protesters who tried to stop ships carrying coal from leaving the Port of Newcastle, NSW, on Saturday.

During the 30-hour protest outside the world’s largest coal port, activists rowed out onto the water on kayaks, surfboards and pontoons.

Mr Howard has been in the industry for 43 years, starting his career when he was 17 with his first job in the Illawarra district, south of Sydney.

The 60-year-old is pushing for renewable energy sources, but admitted to Ny Breaking Australia that coal mining had been good for him personally and paid above-average wages.

Miners can earn up to $200,000 a year or more – which is more than double the average salary of $95,000 in Australia.

“The mining and resources industry has treated the Australian community well, so we are all equally responsible for emissions,” he said.

However, he believed that the industry’s days were numbered.

During the 30-hour protest outside the world’s largest coal port, activists rowed out onto the water on kayaks, surfboards and pontoons

‘As a miner, I am not isolated from caring for the environment. “I cannot be reckless with my opinions nor reckless with the future of others,” he said.

“I understand we need a transition, especially thermal coal, it is 30 percent of the problem of CO2 emissions.”

“The transition has already started, it’s happening and I want miners to be part of that conversation.”

Mr Howard doubted whether someone starting out as a miner today could have the same career as him because he did not think the industry “will still be around in 40 years.”

“If you can’t sell the coal, you can’t extract it and the world is changing,” he said.

“Europe is setting up a carbon market, which means we can mine as much as we want, we can impose on ourselves as much of you, but ultimately if we can’t sell that stuff, they won’t mine it.

According to the International Energy Agency, global coal use will rise to record levels in 2022, exceeding 8 billion tonnes for the first time.

Although coal consumption in Europe and the US showed a marginal decline, which was more than offset by growing demand in China, India and Southeast Asian countries.

Together they are expected to account for three out of every four tons of coal by 2023.

Grant Howard, 60, was one of several protesters who tried to stop ships carrying coal from leaving the Port of Newcastle, NSW, on Saturday.

Mr Russell (pictured left) attends a protest against NAB’s funding of new thermal coal mines earlier this year

However, according to some authorities, renewable energy sources are also growing rapidly and are expected to increase by a third this year.

Renewable energy sources, including hydropower and biomass combustion, provided about a third of the world’s energy in 2020.

Mr Howard now works as a coal deposits supervisor in Queensland’s central east Bowen Basin, which employs about 40,000 people.

When asked what could replace these livelihoods, Mr Howard said there would still be jobs in the resources sector.

‘There will still be plenty of jobs mineral extraction, whether that is copper, lead or gold,” he said.

“Automation is generally a major threat to miners’ jobs as the market changes.”

“With the coal fields, employment is shifting to offices and rooms in Brisbane where they operate the equipment.

“We are better off preparing for new industries, including battery and hydrogen production, and latching onto and embracing the industries of the future.”

Mr Howard said one of the reasons he wanted to get involved in the “conversation” about the transition is because politicians are exploiting miners for their own interests.

“They have exploited mine workers, not to provide for the mining industry, but to provide their own jobs,” he said.

Although he did not normally talk about his views at work as he was focused on his job, Mr Howard said he was open with his colleagues when the subject came up.

“It’s a little difficult,” he said.

When asked what could replace these livelihoods, Mr Howard said there would still be jobs in the resources sector (Photo: Protesters in Newcastle on Saturday)

Mr Howard is speaking at a community campaign to understand climate change and its impact on local fire risk

‘Sometimes they don’t agree. I disagree with them, but at other times I meet miners who understand my ideas and opinions and are happy.”

At protests, where he has spoken on stage, he also does not reveal that he is a miner, but says the fact is common knowledge and that he is open about it.

“Every now and then I’ve had a negative effect, it’s very minor,” he said

“At the end of the day, miners are not responsible, we are just as responsible.”

Mr Howard said despite the export revenues Australia would lose by giving up coal, “the simple fact is we need to move to a zero-carbon economy”.

“We have already talked about a 2 degree Celsius increase in average global temperatures, we have demonstrated the consequences of climate change, with increasing severity of floods and droughts, which we are already witnessing,” he said.

‘In Australia, bushfires have increased in intensity and frequency and there is no doubt about it: droughts are becoming increasingly severe.’

Asked whether he and other Australians were willing to make sacrifices to cut emissions, such as limiting travel or even rationing electricity, Mr Howard said he could not speak for other people but said he would wanted to do.

“There is a responsibility on everyone, including corporations and small and medium-sized businesses, to seek and define their own energy independence,” he said.

He argued that it was possible to switch the electricity grid to almost entirely renewable energy sources, citing Iceland as a country that has done this, although he admitted that it had access to volcanic thermal energy and hydropower.’

“The net benefit is for the country,” he said.

Hundreds of protesters enter Newcastle Harbor to prevent coal export ships from entering or leaving