There can be no new coal mines if we are to avoid dangerous climate change.

Yet, since May 2022, the Federal Environment Minister has approved 4 new coal mines or expansions with 156 million tonnes of lifetime emissions.

Approved Projects
4
Total Coal
55 million tonnes
Total emissions
156 million tonnes

Australia is the third largest exporter of fossil fuels in the world.

Instead of closing coal mines, the Federal Government is looking to open more.

There are 25 additional proposals for new or expanded coal mines currently waiting for Federal Government approval.

Approving 4 new coal mines goes against our climate goals. Approving 29 new coal mines, and the 12.9 billion tonnes of emissions they would cause, is incompatible with limiting dangerous climate change.

Approved & Proposed Projects
29
Total Coal
5,289 million tonnes
Total emissions
12,869 million tonnes

If approved, the lifetime emissions from these mines would be equivalent to keeping all of Australia’s coal-fired power stations operating for an additional 93 years.

×93 years

The Federal Environment Minister, Tanya Plibersek, could say no to these projects.

Ask Tanya Plibersek to stop approving new coal mines.

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Australia has committed to net zero emissions by 2050. To meet this goal, Australia must reduce its emissions by 43% (from 2005 emissions levels) by 2030.

In 2021-22, Australia produced 422 million tonnes of coal. That results in 1.1 billion tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions (carbon dioxide equivalent CO2-e) in just one year.

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Coal mines