Search Climate Insights Directory

This briefing by Zero Carbon Analytics challenges the claim that renewable energy increases electricity prices, arguing that real-world data from the US, EU, Australia, and India often show a correlation between high renewable uptake and below-average power prices.

This submission by Ember to the New South Wales (NSW) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides recommendations to strengthen proposed climate change requirements for large greenhouse gas emitters, specifically focusing on coal mine methane (CMM) reporting and abatement to align with NSW's Net Zero Emissions targets.

This report by Global Energy Monitor (GEM) analyzes the potential for repurposing abandoned and soon-to-be-closed surface coal mines into solar photovoltaic (PV) power plants. It argues that these sites are ideal for solar development due to their existing proximity to grid infrastructure and the need for land reclamation, offering a pathway to align clean energy goals with local job creation and environmental restoration.

Ember's submission to the Clean Energy Regulator argues for the reform of 'Method 2', the compulsory site-specific approach for reporting methane emissions from large open-cut coal mines in Australia. Ember asserts that current implementation is undermined by poor measurement, lack of verification, and transparency gaps, which could distort climate policy. The report suggests that adopting modern stationary and atmospheric measurement technologies, alongside data and verification reforms, could make Australia a global leader in emissions accuracy.

This submission by Ember to the Clean Energy Regulator argues that 'Method 2' for reporting fugitive methane emissions from Australian coal mines is scientifically inadequate and leads to significant under-reporting. The document highlights a growing gap between increasing coal production and stagnant or declining reported emissions, particularly in New South Wales. Ember recommends urgent reforms, including mandated regular updates to emission factors, increased borehole density, independent third-party verification, and the integration of satellite-based atmospheric monitoring to ensure the integrity of Australia's national emissions inventory.

A report by Ember and Kayrros using TROPOMI satellite observations to estimate fugitive methane emissions from coal mining clusters in Australia, finding that satellite-derived emissions are significantly higher than official national and state-level reports.

This report by Ember analyzes coal mine methane (CMM) emissions in Queensland and New South Wales, Australia. It compares officially reported fugitive emissions with satellite-based estimates and airborne measurements, finding that actual emissions in both states are significantly higher than reported, with particularly large discrepancies noted for surface mines in Queensland and overall totals in New South Wales.

This report examines the discrepancy between satellite-observed methane emissions and company-led estimates from open-cut coal mines in Australia, specifically focusing on the impact of shifting from state-based (Method 1) to site-specific (Method 2) emissions accounting in New South Wales.

A report by Ember using TROPOMI satellite data and wind-rotation methods reveals that fugitive methane emissions from Australian coal mines are significantly higher than officially reported. The analysis, covering six mining clusters, found that emissions in 2020 were at least 40% higher than national reports, with particularly severe underreporting in New South Wales.

A report by Ember examines a shift in how fugitive methane emissions from open-cut coal mines in Australia are reported, moving from state-based averages (Method 1) to site-specific estimates (Method 2). The report finds that this accounting shift has led to a significant decrease in reported emissions, particularly in New South Wales, creating a mismatch between regulator-compiled averages and operator-reported estimates.

The report examines the role of underground coal mine closures in reducing fugitive methane emissions in Australia. While the closure of 'super-emitting' mines has historically driven significant emissions decreases, new project expansions and license extensions threaten to reverse these gains and undermine national and state climate targets.

This report by Ember examines the 'paradox' of Australia's coal industry, where coal production increased by 170% between 1990 and 2022 while reported fugitive emissions remained nearly flat. The report attributes this trend to the closure of high-emitting underground mines and a shift toward open-cut mining, which relies on estimated rather than measured emissions. It warns that a transition to site-specific reporting methods has significantly lowered reported emissions, particularly in New South Wales, and that proposed mine expansions could reverse recent emissions declines.

Ember submitted a statement to Australia's Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water arguing that the Boggabri Coal Mine's Modification 10 proposal significantly underestimates fugitive emissions. Ember contends that the mine uses an unverified, decade-old emissions factor that is 95 times lower than state guidance, potentially under-reporting Scope 1 emissions by millions of tonnes, especially as the mine seeks to operate at greater depths.

This report by Ember examines the risks associated with a proposed shift in Australia's emissions reporting for open-cut coal mines, moving from state-based average emission factors (Method 1) to unverified company-led estimates (Method 2). The analysis of ten mines suggests that this shift allows companies to significantly under-report fugitive methane emissions, potentially erasing millions of tonnes of CO2-e from the national inventory without actual mitigation.

Ember submits that coal mining emissions pose a critical risk to New South Wales' net zero targets. The report argues that current federal regulations like the Safeguard Mechanism are inadequate because they allow offsets over onsite mitigation and may underreport emissions from open cut mines. Using Tahmoor Colliery as a case study, Ember demonstrates that onsite VAM mitigation is technically feasible and commercially viable but requires state-led regulatory pressure. Key recommendations include pausing new coal mine approvals and commissioning a detailed risk report from the Net Zero Commission by June 2025.

This submission by Ember to the Federal Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) argues for the extension and expansion of Australia's Coal Mine Waste Gas (CMWG) method beyond 2025. Ember recommends extending the methodology to include open-cut mines and improving measurement and verification frameworks to accelerate the decarbonisation of the coal sector.

This report by Ember analyzes the methane emissions profile of Whitehaven Coal Limited, Australia's largest pure-play coal company. It argues that Whitehaven's current and proposed mining expansions could release over 1 million tonnes of methane by 2050, while highlighting significant discrepancies between company-reported emissions and independent estimates.

Ember provides feedback to Australia’s Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water regarding 15 coal mine proposals, arguing that their approval would significantly increase coal mine methane (CMM) emissions and hinder Australia's ability to meet international climate targets.

Ember provides feedback to the New South Wales (NSW) Environment Protection Authority (EPA) regarding its draft Climate Change Policy and Action Plan 2022-2025. The submission argues for a specific focus on coal mine methane (CMM) emissions, proposing new actions to improve measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) and to implement mitigation strategies to align with international targets and the Global Methane Pledge.

The report by Ember outlines a pathway for Australia to significantly reduce annual methane emissions from coal mines by 2030. It argues that coal mine methane (CMM) mitigation is a cost-effective and rapid way to meet climate targets, potentially reducing Australia's total annual methane emissions by 18% by 2030.