JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – The Australian Conservation Foundation (AFC) on Monday lodged an appeal against the Federal Court’s decision last month that the approval of Indian conglomerate Adani’s Carmichael coal mine had been lawful.
The Federal Court last month dismissed the AFC’s application to block the coal mine from proceeding. The AFC is seeking an appeal on the grounds that coal from the mine will have an impact on global warming and the Great Barrier Reef.
“This is a profound moment in the history of protecting Australia’s environment, as we attempt to stop a coal mine that would create 4.6-billion tonnes of climate pollution if it is allowed to proceed,” ACF head Geoff Cousins said in a statement.
“Australia’s system of environment laws is broken if it allows the Federal Environment Minister to approve a mega-polluting coal mine – the biggest in Australia’s history – and claim it will have no impact on the global warming and the reef.”
The Carmichael coal, railway and port project includes building Australia’s largest thermal coal mine, linked by a new 388 km standard gauge rail line to a new terminal at Abbot Point port near Bowen.