Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek has today approved the fourth coal project this year, at the Gregory Crinum Coal Mine in the Bowen Basin, to run until 2073.
This follows project approvals for the Isaac River Coal Mine, the Star Coal Mine, and the Ensham Coal Mine.
Last week’s emissions update found that fossil fuel emissions continue to rise under Labor, their weak 43% by 2030 target won’t be reached until 2037, and Australia won’t hit net zero until 2080.
Even if Labor’s 43% emissions reduction target was reached, it is consistent with a global temperature rise of over 2C, in breach of our Paris Target commitments.
Leader of the Australian Greens, Adam Bandt MP said:
“Labor is making global heating worse by opening new coal mines,” Mr Bandt said.
“Tanya Plibersek has just approved a new coal project that will run until 2073, when we’re meant to be reaching net zero. That’s another 50 years of coal, when the science tells us we can’t open any new coal or gas mines.
“The science is crystal clear. If we’re going to stop the world going over the climate cliff, we can’t open up a single new coal project, but Labor has approved four.
“With Labor opening new coal and gas mines, it is no surprise that emissions are continuing to rise under Labor.”
Sarah Hanson-Young, Greens Environment Spokesperson, Senator for SA said:
“Another day, another coal mine approved by the so-called Environment Minister.”
“Every time this Government approves a new coal or gas project they are risking our River Murray, our Reef and the safety of our children.
“Our environment laws are broken. We need laws that stop native forest logging and the stop pollution that fuels the climate crisis.
“The Minister has promised to fix our environment laws this year and that must include making sure they account for climate change when assessing these projects, at the very least.”