00:01It's a big moment for coal mining here in the Hunter today but also for fossil fuel
00:05projects across the country more broadly.
00:08The High Court ruling that the NSW Independent Planning Commission failed to consider climate
00:13change impacts when it approved the extension of the Mount Pleasant coal mine here in Musselbrook
00:18which you can see behind me.
00:19The court found it should have considered the downstream emissions produced when the
00:24coal is burnt overseas by buyers and their potential contribution to impacts like bushfires
00:29droughts and extreme heat.
00:31The decision follows a four-year legal battle from a local community environment group.
00:36They are of course celebrating the decision today.
00:38They told us while it's not the end of coal overnight it means that these projects can
00:42no longer be pushed through without a consideration of climate change.
00:46It is the first time the High Court has ruled on climate and it's expected to have wider implications
00:51for projects across the country and how they're assessed.
00:54In terms of this mine here, Mount Pleasant, the ruling means that the approval they did
00:59have to continue for an extra 22 years is now invalid.
01:03It will have to be reassessed, go back through the planning process again.
01:07So we'll wait and see what happens there but certainly fossil fuel projects across the country
01:11will be watching this closely.
01:12interview by
