The High Court dismissed MACH Energy's appeal over a planned extension of the Mount Pleasant mine in New South Wales, in the first climate case to reach Australia's top court.
Australia's High Court on Wednesday dismissed MACH Energy's appeal over the blocked expansion of the Mount Pleasant coal mine in New South Wales, Reuters reported. It was the first climate case to reach the country's highest court.
MACH Energy had sought to run the mine until 2048 and to double production, which would have allowed extraction of an additional 406 million tons of coal. The court found that planning authorities had not properly considered rules to limit the project's climate footprint, including emissions from coal burned overseas.
Wendy Wales, president of the community group that brought the case, said the ruling rejected the idea that exported coal could be treated as unrelated to climate harm felt in Australia. Advocates said the decision would affect future fossil-fuel approvals in the state.
The New South Wales government said the existing approval to operate until 2032 is separate and is not changed by the judgment. It said the ruling concerns how the expansion was assessed in 2022 and does not bar a fresh application. The state said MACH Energy intends to keep pursuing options and that officials will examine the judgment.
No new mine approval was issued on Wednesday. The government said later Hunter Valley approvals had already included consideration of Scope 3 emissions.
People Sentiments Mixed
- Wendy Wales said the court rejected treating exported coal as unrelated to climate harm.
- The New South Wales government said current operations until 2032 are unaffected.