Australia's High Court invalidates Mount Pleasant coal mine expansion approval

The short version

• Australia's High Court ruled 3-2 against an appeal by MACH Energy, invalidating the approval of the Mount Pleasant coal mine expansion.[The Guardian]
• A Hunter Valley community group successfully argued that the state planning commission failed to consider mitigating greenhouse gases produced when exported coal is burned.[The Guardian]
• The planned expansion would have doubled coal production to 21 million tonnes annually until 2048, with scope 3 emissions representing 98% of its projected output.[The Guardian]
• MACH Energy accepted the decision and stated it will evaluate the ruling's consequences for future project reviews.[The Guardian]

Key facts

• A Hunter Valley community group won Australia's first High Court case considering climate change.[The Guardian]
• The High Court dismissed MACH Energy's appeal in a 3-2 decision because planning regulators failed to evaluate how to mitigate overseas emissions from exported coal.[The Guardian]
• The Mount Pleasant expansion aimed to double production to 21 million tonnes per annum through 2048.[The Guardian]
• Approximately 98% of the greenhouse emissions forecast for the mine project are scope 3 emissions.[The Guardian]
• MACH Energy accepted the High Court decision while expressing disappointment regarding the ruling.[The Guardian]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.

• Hunter Valley community group wins landmark high court climate change case over Mount Pleasant coalmineThe Guardian - World
• Australia top court rules against coal mine expansion, citing climate harmAl Jazeera
• Overseas, Albanese sees ‘the very definition of climate injustice’ – but at home, he still wants coalThe Guardian - World
• ‘Lawyers should be running to courts’ to stop coal approvals after landmark ruling, NSW MP saysThe Guardian - World