New legal challenge to proposed Carmichael coal mine – Australia’s largest – will test in federal court whether climate change caused by greenhouse gas emissions should be taken into account when assessing prospective coal licences in Australia. The challenge, by New South Wales Environmental Defenders Office on behalf of Mackay Conservation Group, argues that federal environment minister Greg Hunt failed to take into account the climate impact of greenhouse gases emitted by the burning of coal from the Carmichael mine when assessing whether to grant its licence. It cites impact of global warming on the Great Barrier reef, an area of world and national heritage, as a relevant consideration which the minister should have taken into account.

>readmore> TheConversation