Letter

In response to A minority Labor Government's policy agenda – Part 1

Do fossil fuels only create emissions when burned?

Michael Keating writes many great articles: but I am nitpicking here! He wrote, “But fossil fuels only create emissions when burned, not when they are dug up.”

I beg to differ. Both in onshore and offshore contexts, the extraction process itself, before the gas is used by customers, leaks a surprisingly large proportion of the gas targeted. This varies by location and technology used, but is rarely negligible. I suggest a fact-check!

— David Gray from Perth, WA