There are currently 425 existing and proposed fossil fuel projects globally that have the potential to release more than 1 Gigatonne (Gt) of CO2 during their operating lives. Despite recommendations from the International Energy Agency to avoid opening new fossil fuel.

The policies of fossil fuel producing countries, including Australia, encourage the increase in supply of fossil fuels despite the need to reduce supply to control global warming. Efforts to defuse carbon bombs and prevent their extraction have been neglected in mainstream mitigation policy.

Australia’s fugitive methane emissions from the coal, oil, and gas industries are significantly underreported, with a 92% underreporting for oil and gas and an 81% underreporting for coal.

Carbon bombs pose a serious threat to achieving climate goals of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. The author emphasizes the urgent need for action and highlights the importance of choosing between serving material interests (mammon) or prioritizing the environment.