The New South Wales Land and Environment Court turned down an appeal by mining company Gloucester Resources for an open-cut coal mine because of its potential contribution to greenhouse-gas emmisions and global warming.
The coal mine was planned to be built near the town of Gloucester in the Hunter Valley. It is the first time a new coal mine has been rejected in Australia, the world’s leading coal exporter, because of the potential contribution to global warming.
Chief Judge Brian Preston said the project should be refused because “the greenhouse-gas emissions (GHGs) of the coal mine and its product will increase global total concentrations of GHGs at a time when what is now urgently need is a deep decrease in emissions.”