High Court of Australia issues landmark climate ruling on coal mine

The High Court of Australia has delivered its first-ever decision in a climate-related case, dismissing an appeal by the owner of the Mount Pleasant coal mine in New South Wales. The ruling, decided by a 3-2 majority, follows legal action brought by a community group against MACH Energy regarding the mine’s expansion approval.

The judgment establishes a significant precedent by requiring planning authorities to consider the full carbon footprint of fossil fuel projects. This includes Scope 3 emissions, which are the emissions produced when customers burn the coal or gas overseas.

While the case specifically concerned the Mount Pleasant mine, the decision may impact approximately 17 other coal proposals currently in the New South Wales planning pipeline. The ruling provides a potential legal blueprint for future climate litigation against fossil fuel developments across Australia.