A senior climate adviser in the federal government has criticized New South Wales’ approval of a major coalmining project, arguing that regulators failed to factor in the long-term economic risks of climate change from burning the extracted coal. The state’s planning commission approved the mine’s expansion, allowing operations until mid-century, but the adviser questioned why potential climate-related financial impacts were not considered in the assessment. The criticism highlights growing tensions between economic development and environmental policy in Australia’s energy sector. The debate underscores concerns over whether climate risks are being adequately addressed in major infrastructure decisions.
Exclusive: Climate Change Authority chair says planning commission did not account for climate-related economic damage in NSWSign up for climate and environment editor Adam Morton’s free Clear Air newsletter hereA senior Albanese government climate adviser has challenged the state approval of the largest coalmining development in New South Wales’ history, arguing “climate change isn’t someone else’s problem”.Matt Kean, the chair of the Climate Change Authority and a former NSW treasurer and energy minister, questioned why the state Independent Planning Commission had not weighed the economic cost of climate change caused by burning the coal from the Hunter Valley Operations mine before giving it the green light to run until 2045. Continue reading...
