Australia’s government has approved a new coal mine for the first time since it was elected last year – on a climate action platform.
The government is bound by national environmental laws as it considers the Isaac River coal mine in central Queensland, a spokeswoman said.
Only one coal mine proposal has ever been blocked under these laws.
Scientists have repeatedly warned that new fossil fuel projects are inconsistent with global climate goals.
The Isaac River coal mine, being built near Moranbah, an 11-hour drive north of Brisbane, is expected to produce about 2.5 million tonnes of coal over five years.
The mine produces metallurgical coal, also known as coking coal, which is used in steel production.
Though it’s a small mine compared to others in the state, its production could account for about 7 million tonnes of greenhouse gases over its lifetime, says the Australia Institute think tank.
Environmental groups had urged the government to block the new project, saying it would increase global emissions and harm the habitat of vulnerable or endangered species such as the koala, central swift and ornamental snake.
But when the decision proposal was announced by Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek on Thursday afternoon, the government said no one had submitted any proposals during the formal consultation period.
“The Albanian government must make its decisions in accordance with the facts and national environmental law – that happens with every project and it happened here,” said a spokeswoman for Ms Plibersek.
Proponents of the mine, Bowen Coking Coal, will have the opportunity to respond to any proposed development terms before they are officially approved – typically within a few months.
Since coming to power in May 2022 after campaigning for more climate action, Anthony Albanese’s Labor government has enshrined in law a stronger emissions reduction target – of 43% by 2030 – and negotiated the introduction of a carbon cap for the country’s biggest emitters .
However, she has refused to rule out new coal and gas projects.
And although it blocked a coal mine for environmental reasons in February for the first time in history, it didn’t take climate into account.
The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) says any new fossil fuel projects are inconsistent with the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees. In fact, the existing infrastructure for fossil fuels urgently needs to be dismantled, they say.
The Greens’ environmental spokeswoman, Sarah Hanson-Young, said the decision shows a need for reform.
“Australia’s environmental laws are clearly being violated. Projects that are harmful to the environment are not evaluated for the emissions they produce,” she said.
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