Lock the Gate Alliance response to warnings* from the NSW Net Zero Commission’s first report, released today (November 29), about proposed coal mining expansions.
Lock the Gate Alliance NSW Coordinator Nic Clyde said:
“The Net Zero Commission annual report states that greenhouse gas emissions from proposed coal mine expansions pose a major risk to NSW meeting its climate change targets.
“There are at least 20 new coal expansions proposed in NSW right now.
“If these were all to be approved, they would produce lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions more than 17 times the total annual emissions from NSW.
“The Net Zero Commission points out that failing to fix this problem will mean other sectors of the NSW economy will need to make deeper cuts to their own emissions.
“The Minns Government should now take urgent action to crack down on coal mining proposals and ensure that polluting projects that will blow NSW's climate targets and harm other sectors do not proceed.”
*The report says:
Page 12: “The Commission is concerned about the risks to the state's targets from increased emissions in the resources sector.
There are pressures for increased emissions associated with new coal mining projects (extensions and expansions of existing mines), with a sizeable pipeline of projects that have been submitted for consideration and determination through the planning process.
Any emissions increases associated with extended or expanded projects would require all other sectors to make greater emissions reductions if the state is to meet its emissions reduction targets. The emissions increases pose a major challenge for the state's regulatory arrangements.”