Approving the proposed Hunter Valley Operations (HVO) coal mine expansion would unleash 800 million tonnes of climate pollution and put more Australians in harm's way, the Climate Council warns.
The referral of the largest coal mining proposal in NSW’s history sets up a major test for the state’s Independent Planning Commission (IPC). The HVO Continuation Project, a joint venture between Glencore and Yancoal near Singleton in the Hunter Valley, would extend open-cut coal mining until 2045 and expand the mine, opening-up extraction of an additional 200 million tonnes of coal.
Climate Council CEO Amanda McKenzie said: “This proposed massive coal expansion is a climate bomb contributing to worsening climate disasters. It would benefit large fossil fuel mining corporations while putting more Australians in harm’s way. It’s critical the IPC reject this coal expansion.
“NSW families and farmers are already facing rising insurance premiums, thanks to worsening floods and fires, and the average NSW resident is $20,000 a year worse off due to climate change impacts.
“The world won’t buy coal forever as every country makes the clean switch. NSW must focus on investing for the future – not past technologies. Clean energy and storage will diversify our energy sources and set us up for the future.”
Climate Council Councillor Prof David Karoly said: “Any coal that is exported and burned outside Australia returns to us as climate pollution that fuels more dangerous disasters. NSW communities are already highly vulnerable to the increasing threat of bushfires, severe river flooding, and more frequent and intense coastal storm surges from ongoing sea level rise, thanks to the burning of coal, oil and gas.
“Not only that, this coal mine expansion would also harm the Hunter River and local water resources, which local farming and tourism industries depend on.
“The IPC has an opportunity to consider the global and local climate impacts of this project and an obligation to reject it on climate grounds – to protect the people and environment of NSW. It is imperative that it do so.”
|
Approving the Hunter Valley Operations expansion until the 2040s would unleash more than 800 million tonnes of climate pollution – more than seven times NSW's annual emissions – including:
|
ENDS
About us:
The Climate Council is Australia’s leading community-funded climate change communications organisation. We provide authoritative, expert and evidence-based advice on climate change to journalists, policymakers, and the wider Australian community.
For further information, go to: climatecouncil.org.au
Or follow us on social media: LinkedIn, Facebook, Threads
Contact details:
For interviews please contact the Climate Council media team on [email protected] or call 0485 863 063.
