THE NSW GOVERNMENT has buckled under pressure from the mining lobby and announced controversial plans to forbid planning authorities from considering the climate impacts of burning coal when considering whether to approve new mines.

“Scientists and the courts have found that burning coal is worsening extreme weather and hurting Australians. It is outrageous that the government is allowing coal corporations to continue to run the show,” said the Climate Council’s CEO, Amanda McKenzie.

“For thirty years now we’ve known that coal is a major driver of the escalating climate crisis. That crisis is ravaging NSW, with bushfires burning in winter and spring. Sea level rise is damaging our coasts and flood-prone properties are becoming uninsurable,” she said.

“It is insanity for the NSW Government to lay out the red carpet for coal,” said Ms McKenzie.

“We need to ask hard questions about the power of the coal mining lobby to advance its interests at the expense of the community. They have got away with it for far too long,” said Climate Council Senior Researcher, Tim Baxter.

“There are real opportunities for NSW in the transition to clean, reliable, affordable renewable energy,” said Mr Baxter.

“The NSW Government has a net-zero target by 2050 and it has the potential to become an international hub for renewable energy. Today’s announcement is a big step in the wrong direction,” he said.

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