The world is set to cross 1.5°C within the next few years because of our failure to drive down greenhouse gas emissions from coal, oil and gas. Every tonne left in the ground, and every fraction of degree avoided means more lives, livelihoods, species and ecosystems saved.
At a moment when the evidence for urgent, drastic emissions cuts has never been clearer, approving The HVO Continuation Project would push NSW’s communities, economy and environment further into harm’s way.
The NSW Independent Planning Commission has a responsibility to consider the likely impacts of this project’s climate pollution — including its scope 3 emissions — on the local community and environment. The Commission cannot approve the project on the assumption that someone else, somewhere else, bears responsibility for the harm that this project will cause.
No new or expanded coal project – of any duration – is consistent with a safe climate future. The Commission must reject the HVO Continuation Project proposal.
WHY HVO’S KEY ASSERTIONS DON’T HOLD UP
The climate impacts of the project are a mandatory consideration for the Commission – regardless of where the coal is burned
Every tonne of coal, oil and gas extracted and burned heats the global climate and fuels more destructive extreme weather – harming Australians no matter where it’s released. There is no pathway to a safer climate that includes approving a project like HVO.
HVO cannot have it both ways: arguing that responsibility lies with trading partners while expecting strong global coal demand
NSW cannot rely on other countries to honour their Paris Agreement commitments while approving projects that go against all expert advice and make global temperature goals harder to achieve.
HVO’s failure to support its workers should not be a licence to pollute
HVO’s failure to prepare a mine exit strategy and transition plan for its workers and the community must not become an excuse to further fuel global heating and worsening extreme weather that is already severely impacting communities in the Hunter. An extension of any duration to the largest coal proposal in NSW presents risks inconsistent with the Commission’s obligations to the Hunter’s climate and the community.
WHAT’S AT STAKE FOR THE HUNTER
The Hunter is facing severe impacts as a potentially record-breaking El Niño unfolds
On 3 September, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) warned that the current El Niño may become the strongest since records began four decades ago (WMO 2026). Climate pollution from coal, oil and gas is supercharging all of its impacts because the world is already 1.4°C hotter (Copernicus 2026). This means more aggressive drought, fire weather that’s more dangerous, arrives earlier and lasts longer, deadly extreme heat, together with marine heatwaves and coral bleaching off our coasts (Climate Council 2026).
The Hunter will feel the effects of this El Niño no matter what the Commission decides. But the Commission does have the power to decide whether the 800+ million tonnes of pollution from the HVO extension will play a part in making the next one worse.
HVO’s refusal to consider anything shorter than its proposed 19 year extension serves only one interest: the profits of Glencore and Yancoal. Its failure to prepare a mine exit strategy and transition plan for its workers and the community must not become an excuse to further fuel global heating and worsening extreme weather that is already severely impacting communities in the Hunter.
The Commission must reject the HVO Continuation Project proposal.
