SYDNEY, Oct 7 — Australia’s highest court ruled against a massive coal mine expansion today, delivering judgement in what campaigners say is the first climate ruling from the nation’s top judicial body.
The High Court of Australia found that a local planning department “failed to consider” ways to limit planet-heating emissions from the mine.
Local resources firm Mach Energy had sought permission to extend the life of the open-cut Mount Pleasant coal mine by more than 20 years until 2048.
Mach Energy argued that coal exported and burned overseas could not be clearly linked to environmental impacts felt around the mine.
Environmental campaigners disagreed, launching a years-long legal fight that eventually wound up in the High Court.
Mach Energy’s proposal was initially approved by the New South Wales state planning commission.
The High Court of Australia found the planning commission failed to consider imposing conditions on the mine that would limit emissions “to the greatest extent practicable”. — AFP
Date: 7 October, 2026 3:00 pm
Source: Malay Mail
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