Australia’s top court puts fossil fuel developers on notice

Key points

• Australia’s High Court has ruled that planning authorities must assess the full carbon footprint of fossil fuel projects, including emissions from burning coal overseas.
• The decision, in a case brought by a community group against MACH Energy’s Mount Pleasant coal mine in NSW, sets a new standard for coal and gas projects in the state and potentially across the country.
• The ruling means developers of future coal projects in NSW will be expected to propose ways to curb their scope 3 emissions, which could reshape the economic case for continued fossil fuel production in Australia.