MEDIA RELEASE
12th of December 2025
Today’s Spotlight report from the Net Zero Commission is a line in the sand for new coal in NSW, according to the Nature Conservation Council of NSW (NCC), the state’s leading environmental organisation.
“The Net Zero Commission’s audit of coal mining clarifies with scientific precision what should already be obvious: coal mining is incompatible with a safe climate future,” said Nature Conservation Council CEO Jacqui Mumford.
“The commission was set up to monitor progress against our state’s climate goals, and it is now ringing the alarm bell that unless reined in, the coal mining sector’s reckless pollution will put those goals out of reach.
NSW has legislated climate targets for good reason. We are living through worsening climate impacts that can and must be abated. That can’t happen while we approve new coal.
“The Commission’s findings are incontrovertible. But they also reveal that coal mine regulation and approvals in NSW have been irresponsible and out of step with a safe climate future.
“The report reveals that methane leaks in coal mines have been left unchecked, pouring pollution into the atmosphere and undermining the efforts in every other sector in NSW.
“The Net Zero Bill obligates the Premier and the Minister to achieve the targets. The report shows that to do that it's time to stop approving new coal and to plan a transition to clean energy.
“The Net Zero Commission has shone a spotlight. Now the free ride for coal mine pollution has to end."
ENDS