Home / Environment / NSW Climate Agency Halts Coalmine Approvals
NSW Climate Agency Halts Coalmine Approvals
12 Dec, 2025
Summary
- New mine expansions contradict NSW's legislated emissions targets.
- Coal is the state's biggest climate crisis contributor, report finds.
- Government urged to support communities transitioning from coal.
The New South Wales government has been officially warned that it can no longer approve new coalmine developments. This comes as the state's climate agency, the NSW Net Zero Commission, determined that new expansions are incompatible with legislated emissions reduction targets.
The commission's Coal Mining Emissions Spotlight Report emphasizes that coalmining is the state's largest contributor to the climate crisis. It further states that new coal proposals contradict the state's commitments to cut emissions by 50% by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050.
Environmental advocates view this as a pivotal moment, calling for an immediate halt to all new coalmine expansion approvals. The report also advises the government to prepare for a transition away from coal, supporting communities and workers impacted by declining demand.
