Eight coal projects to be considered by NSW forecast to add 1.5bn tonnes to global emissions

Coalmining projects considered by the NSW government, including Glencore’s Hunter Valley operations, are forecast to add 1.5bn tonnes to greenhouse gas emissions. Photograph: Loren Elliott/Reuters

Eight coal projects the New South Wales government will consider in 2023 would add at least 1.5bn tonnes to global greenhouse gas emissions if they all proceeded, according to analysis by Lock the Gate.

The anti-mining group said it was the largest proposed expansion of coalmining in the state since the Paris agreement on climate change was signed and showed a need for changes to planning laws to regulate greenhouse gas emissions.