Four new coal mines approved, ignoring climate and environmental impacts

Conservation groups are dismayed at the Albanese Government’s approval of four new coal mines today: Boggabri in New South Wales, and Caval Ridge Horse Pit, Lake Vermont Meadowbrook and Vulcan South in Central Queensland.

Together, these mines will destroy thousands of hectares of threatened species habitat and will contribute nearly one billion tonnes of carbon emissions – more than double Australia’s total annual emissions.

The government’s environmental laws do not require consideration of how greenhouse gas emissions from these projects will harm the environment, raising serious concerns about Australia’s commitment to combating climate change.

In the face of increasing pressure to reform Australia’s environmental assessment process, the Albanese Government has refused to amend the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC Act) to include a climate change trigger, which would require the consideration of climate impacts before approving new fossil fuel projects.

Environmental Advocacy in Central Queensland Director, Dr Coral Rowston said:

“The Australian Government is failing on limiting climate change by approving new coal mines. The science is clear- approving new coal and gas projects must stop if we are to protect Australians from dangerous climate change.

“This is a cowardly decision by politicians who are too afraid to stand up to the coal billionaires and polluters, choosing not to take real climate action to protect our communities from worsening fires, floods, and extreme weather.

“Prime Minister Albanese claims to be committed to climate action, but his government is not taking the obvious action.  Stop approving new fossil fuel projects.

“The Government’s refusal to consider climate impacts while approving these coal projects is a deliberate choice to harm people, both today and in the future. The world’s scientists and the International Energy Agency have made it clear that to keep global heating to safe levels, there can be no new coal and gas projects.”

“To top this off, Australians are facing a climate-fuelled cost of living crisis, and every new coal approval makes it worse. Climate disasters like heatwaves, droughts, fires, and floods increase the cost of living by destroying homes and property, driving up insurance costs, and impacting food production. The enormous cost of rebuilding after disasters is ultimately paid for by taxpayers.”

Minister Plibersek has pledged ‘no new extinctions,’ but the government continues to approve coal mines that destroy critically important habitats for endangered species like the koala and greater glider. The only way to prevent the extinction of Australia’s wildlife is to stop destroying their habitats and placing them under additional climate change pressure.

“The Vulcan South coal mine approval is a real kick in the guts.  Over 1100ha of koala habitat to be cleared by a coal company that is currently under criminal investigation for the illegal clearing of threatened species habitat.

“The Albanese Government’s hypocrisy is staggering. You cannot claim to act on climate change while approving new coal mines that destroy our environment, and you cannot claim to protect wildlife while allowing coal companies to bulldoze the forests they call home”, said Dr Rowston.