Australia top court rules against coal mine expansion, citing climate harm

Campaigners say ruling sets a ‘binding national precedent’ requiring climate damage be weighed when fossil fuel projects are considered.Published On 7 Oct 20267 Oct 2026Australia’s highest court has ruled against the expansion of a major coal mine, finding that planning authorities had failed to ensure that emissions of planet-warming greenhouse gases would be “minimised to the greatest extent practicable”.Environmental campaigners called Wednesday’s court decision the first climate case to reach the country’s highest court. They said it set a “binding national precedent” requiring climate damage be weighed when fossil fuel projects are considered.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Australia’s Great Barrier Reef hit by record bleaching as oceans warmlist 2 of 3World’s ‘fossil fuel obsession’ threatens billions of lives: Amnestylist 3 of 3South Africa to Australia: Why coal profits are surging during Iran warend of listIn the ruling, three of the High Court’s five judges found that the expansion of the Mount Pleasant mine in New South Wales must be halted. Planning authorities, they said, were obliged to consider granting consent only with conditions ensuring that all gre...