Matt Kean warns climate crisis ‘isn’t someone else’s problem’ as largest coal project in NSW history greenlit

NSW premier Chris Minns has applauded state approval of the Hunter Valley Operations coalmine extension without mentioning the climate impact. Photograph: Lock the Gate

A senior Albanese government climate adviser has challenged the state approval of the largest coalmining development in New South Wales’s history, arguing “climate change isn’t someone else’s problem”.

Matt Kean, the chair of the Climate Change Authority and a former NSW treasurer and energy minister, questioned why the state Independent Planning Commission had not weighed the economic cost of climate change caused by burning the coal from the Hunter Valley Operations mine before giving it the green light to run until 2045.