Over the
last year or two an increasing number of people have realised that climate
change is not something that will affect us in twenty or more years. It’s affecting us now. The continuing severe
drought as well as the unprecedented fires in this country and elsewhere are
some of the signs that time is running out for effective action to prevent the onset
of more catastrophic impacts .
This
realisation about the present reality and mounting threat of climate change has
been reflected in two significant decisions against coal projects in NSW this
year.
In late
2017 Gloucester Resources had its application for the Rocky Hill Coal Project
near Gloucester on the Mid North Coast rejected by the Independent Planning
Commission. The company appealed this decision in the Land and Environment
Court.
Early in
2019 this Court refused the appeal on a range of grounds, but what was
significant was what was said about climate change. The chief judge stated that
emissions from the mine and its coal product would increase total global
greenhouse concentrations at a time when a rapid and deep decrease in emissions
was needed.
Last
week the Independent Planning Commission announced it had refused approval to Kepco’s
even larger coal mine in the Bylong Valley, 55km from Mudgee. In a statement the Commission said, “The
project is not in the public interest because it is contrary to the principles
of ESD [ecologically sustainable development] - namely intergenerational equity
because the predicted economic benefits would accrue to the present generation
but the long-term environmental, heritage and agricultural costs will be borne
by the future generations.”
In
referring to the greenhouse gas implications of the mine, the Commission cited
the comments made by the Land and Environment Court Chief Judge in the Rocky
Hill mine judgement earlier this year.
These
decisions have set a precedent in NSW which may serve as an example to other
states. In addition it has been welcomed by those concerned about climate
change who oppose the opening of new coal mines.
-Leonie
Blain
This article was originally published in the VOICES FOR THE EARTH column in The Daily Examiner on September 23, 2019
