Media release – Tasmanian Climate Collective, 20 December 2024
Coal for Christmas
The Albanese Government has quietly approved four new coal mine expansions on 19 December just as Australia begins to shut down for Christmas, yet again siding with coal over a safe climate.
This decision denies climate science. The Albanese Government’s approval of three new coal mines will emit 880 million tonnes of carbon pollution, close to double Australia’s total annual emissions.
Tasmanians are facing a climate-fuelled cost of living crisis and the Albanese Government’s new coal approvals will make it worse. The Albanese Government’s new coal mine approvals will cause more intense bushfires and more powerful floods, driving up the cost of food and insurance. The Labor and Liberal parties need to stop handing out billions of public funds to billionaire coal and gas companies and start standing up for everyday Australians facing cost of living pressures.
This is a cowardly decision by the Albanese Government which is protecting the profits of coal billionaires and polluters
Anthony Albanese’s Labor Government was elected with a mandate to act on climate after 10 years of denial and delay. Approving new coal mines is the opposite of climate action.
“The Tasmanian Climate Collective is extremely disappointed by this decision, which attempts to bury the Government’s cosy relationships with multinational coal companies under the cover of Christmas. Did they think we wouldn’t notice?”
“When I was a child, I was told that if I was naughty I’d get coal for Christmas as a punishment. Why is the Albanese government punishing Australians with their present of coal while we are distracted with our Christmas planning” said Sharee McCammon, Tasmanian Climate Collective Co-convenor.
Media release – Australian Conservation Foundation, 20 December 2024
Approving coal mines is the opposite of climate action
In response to Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek’s approval of three coal mine extensions – Boggabri, Caval Ridge and Lake Vermont Meadowbrook – the Australian Conservation Foundation’s climate program manager Gavan McFadzean said:
“Approving coal projects is the opposite of climate action.
“Together, these three coal mine extensions will generate more than 850 million tonnes of lifetime emissions, undermining Australia’s emissions targets and our claims to be a good global citizen and a good neighbour to Pacific nations.
“Climate scientists and the International Energy Agency say the world cannot approve new coal and gas projects.
“The Albanese government keeps trying to walk both sides of the street – supporting clean export and manufacturing initiatives through its Future Made in Australia package while also approving major expansions of coal mines.
“Jellinbah Group’s Lake Vermont coal project in Queensland’s Bowen Basin would produce 348 million tonnes of climate emissions and threatens habitat of koalas, greater gliders and ornamental snakes – all endangered species.
“BHP Mitsubishi’s Caval Ridge coal project on Barada Barna country in central Queensland would produce 473 million tonnes of climate emissions and threatens the endangered Brigalow ecological community and natural grasslands.
“Idemitsu’s Boggabri thermal coal project on Gomeroi country in north-west NSW north would produce 63 million tonnes of climate emissions and threatens habitat for the Regent honeyeater, microbats that need tree to nest in and box-gum woodlands.
“Coal is fuelling the climate crisis, making bushfires, heatwaves and floods more frequent and more intense.
“These coal mine approvals will have consequences for Australians who are forced to live with the reality of a damaged climate.”
Media release – Climate Council, 20 December 2024
Labor’s coal mine expansions fly in the face of science
The Albanese government’s approval of four coal mine expansions locks in decades of climate pollution and flies in the face of science, says the Climate Council.
Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek has justified the mine approvals because they will mostly produce coal for steelmaking, with some thermal coal also produced for burning in power stations.
Climate Councillor Professor Lesley Hughes said: “Our atmosphere doesn’t care if this coal is for steel or power—it’s all heating our planet and driving climate pollution. Burning coal fuels the climate crisis, worsening bushfires, floods and heatwaves that devastate our communities. This decision flies in the face of science, common sense, global responsibility and our duty to protect our kids’ future.”
The International Energy Agency (IEA) has made it clear: new or expanded coal mines are incompatible with limiting global warming to 1.5°C. Even for steelmaking, existing coal supplies are capable of meeting demand through to 2050.
This decision is a clear example of how Australia’s broken environment laws fail to protect the environment from its biggest threat: climate change. Currently, they don’t require projects to account for their climate pollution, allowing coal and gas giants to open more polluting projects without accountability. Addressing this blind spot by strengthening our environmental laws could stop this, but the Albanese government seems to have all but given up on these critical reforms.
“Approving these mines while delaying stronger protections shows a clear disconnect between the government’s rhetoric and its actions. It’s past time to make cuts to climate pollution central to every decision we make” Professor Hughes said.
