The Climate Council claims there are 800 million reasons to reject the region’s biggest coal mining proposal.
It comes after the Hunter Valley Operations (HVO) Continuation Project, near Singleton, was recently referred to the Independent Planning Commission (IPC) for approval.
Glencore and Yancoal are seeking the green light to resume mining for another 19 years, until 2045, which equates to an additional 430 million tonnes of coal.
But, Australia’s leading community-funded climate change communications organisation believes endorsing the HVO extension would put more people in harm’s way.
CEO Amanda McKenzie said it sets up a major test for the IPC.
“Approving the proposed project will unleash 800 million tonnes of pollution,” she explained.
“This 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 rejects 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 sources.
“And, it will set us up for the future.”
Climate Council councillor Professor David Karoly agreed.
“Any coal that is exported and burned outside Australia returns to us as climate pollution that fuels more dangerous disasters,” he said.
“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, the mine expansion would also destroy the Hunter River and water resources, which 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.”
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