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It is the Climate Council’s firm position that the proposed Maxwell Underground Coal Mine Project should not be approved, as the proponent has failed to demonstrate genuine public benefit capable of outweighing the very significant harm from the project.

The concerns we highlight are centred on the following key facts:

• Meeting the globally-agreed temperature goal of limiting global warming to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels requires a well-planned and rapid transition to a fully decarbonised energy system. Immediate, deep and permanent greenhouse gas emissions reductions are required to stabilise the global climate at this level. This means that there is no room for new—or expanded—fossil fuel projects. The project should be rejected on that basis alone.
• New South Wales is already experiencing significant climate impacts. 2019 was the driest and warmest year on record for New South Wales, and these two factors contributed to extensive drought conditions. New South Wales—including the Hunter region—also bore the brunt of the most horrific fire season ever witnessed in Australia. Many regions of southern and eastern Australia, including the Hunter Valley, are expected to experience further heat extremes and continued decreases in cool season rainfall over the coming decades, likely leading to more time in drought.
• Recent months have seen significant international momentum towards net zero emissions targets, including Australia’s largest coal export partners— many of which are listed as potential export destinations for the Maxwell Underground Coal Mine Project (Japan, South Korea and China).
• The Hunter Valley has significant job creation and economic opportunities from renewable energy. The region is set to be established as the fourth renewable energy zone in NSW. The Hunter Valley is also one of the most promising locations for the production of clean steel, which uses renewable hydrogen to replace metallurgical coal. The Hunter Valley has everything it needs to be a global leader in these industries of the future, but it must seize the opportunities now, rather than locking in new fossil fuel projects.

Download the full submission here

Download the full submission here