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Australia's coal industry has seen a rapid expansion of open-cut mining, which grew by 224% between 1990 and 2022 and now accounts for over 85% of total production. This shift has led to a decrease in reported emissions intensity because open-cut mines rely on gas models from 1991 for estimates rather than direct measurement. Consequently, reported fugitive emissions from surface mines have grown at a significantly slower rate than production; for example, since 2005, production increased by 45% while fugitive emissions only rose by 13%.

Underground coal mine closures have been the primary driver of fugitive emissions reductions in Australia's coal sector, as a small number of 'super-emitting' mines contribute a disproportionate share of total emissions. While strategic investments in methane capture have helped, most reductions resulted from the closure of older mines or safety-related shutdowns. However, the document warns that 27 proposed projects and recent license extensions, such as for the Narrabri mine, threaten to undermine national and state climate targets.

Australia's coal production grew by 170% between 1990 and 2022, yet fugitive emissions increased by only 0.17%. This trend is driven by the closure of high-emitting underground mines and a transition toward open-cut mining, which relies on estimated rather than measured emissions. The report highlights a concerning shift toward site-specific emissions reporting (Method 2), which has significantly lowered reported emissions in New South Wales compared to state-based averages. While underground mine closures have provided historic emissions wins, new project expansions and extensions threaten to reverse these gains.

The report argues that Australia is a 'fossil fuel behemoth' whose exported emissions are projected to be 3.3 times larger than its domestic emissions within five years. It highlights that despite IEA warnings against new developments, Australia has approved 30 new coal and gas projects since 2021. The document asserts that a conservative selection of planned projects could consume 6.2% of the remaining global 1.5°C carbon budget. It further criticizes the Australian Safeguard Mechanism as insufficient because it does not manage exported emissions or prevent new project approvals. Finally, it contrasts Australia's fossil fuel expansion with its public commitments to Pacific nations and its bid to co-host COP31.

The report introduces an Excel-based model designed to quantify the financial and economic viability of nature-based solutions (NBI), such as reforestation and mangrove restoration, to enhance road resilience against climate-induced hazards like floods and landslides in Indonesia. Moving beyond traditional CBAs, the model incorporates 'non-road benefits'—including socio-economic externalities like mental health, market access for crops and livestock, and air pollution—to provide a holistic view of investment value. The model was piloted in two distinct locations: Pekanbaru (an urban-rural connection) and West Kalimantan (a rural area). Results demonstrate that while conventional CBAs focusing only on road-related costs often show that costs outweigh benefits, the inclusion of non-road benefits makes these investments economically viable in all tested scenarios. For instance, in the Pekanbaru base case, the benefit-to-cost ratio (BCR) rose to 11.45 when non-road benefits were included.

The report argues that a proposed shift toward unverified company-led emissions reporting (Method 2) in Australian open-cut coal mines allows operators to significantly understate their climate impact. By analyzing eight operating and two proposed mines, Ember finds that some company-led estimates are up to 135 times lower than state-based averages, leading to the 'erasure' of millions of tonnes of CO2-e from national inventories. The document criticizes the Australian government for proposing to expand this self-reporting regime without implementing the Climate Change Authority's recommendations for mandatory top-down verification and increased transparency.

Ember's submission to the NSW Parliament inquiry into Net Zero highlights that the coal mining sector is the biggest potential risk to the state's emission goals. The document argues that existing federal mechanisms, such as the Safeguard Mechanism and the Coal Mine Waste Gas method, are insufficient to drive material onsite reductions. Using Tahmoor Colliery as a case study, Ember demonstrates that Ventilation Air Methane (VAM) mitigation via Regenerative Thermal Oxidiser (RTO) technology is technically and commercially feasible but underutilised due to a lack of state-led regulatory pressure and the availability of carbon offsets. The submission calls for a pause on new coal mine expansions and a dedicated report from the Net Zero Commission by June 2025 to assess sectoral risks and develop a coal-specific emissions target.

The document provides a submission to the Federal Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) regarding the review of the Coal Mine Waste Gas (CMWG) method. Ember argues that the CMWG method is a critical supplementary incentive for decarbonising the resource sector, particularly for metallurgical coal, and should be extended beyond 2025. The submission specifically advocates for expanding the method's eligibility to include open cut mines, as current regulatory frameworks like the Safeguard Mechanism may perversely reward lower-emitting open cut mines. Ember also suggests improving measurement and verification by moving away from state-based emissions factors toward site-specific measurements and top-down verification. Additionally, the document proposes that the CMWG could help manage increasing electricity demand in the mining sector by using waste gas to 'firm' renewable energy output and could potentially incentivise the mitigation of abandoned mine methane.

The report details a surge in targeted harassment and protests against all-ages drag events, such as Drag Queen Story Hours (DQSH), in Australia. It identifies a coalition of actors including neo-Nazis, COVID-19 conspiracy theorists, fringe politicians, and certain Christian groups who employ tactics like review-bombing, bomb threats, and the disruption of local council meetings. The document argues that this movement is heavily influenced by the importation of transphobic rhetoric and 'groomer' narratives from the United States and United Kingdom. While the mobilisers remain a fringe element of society, the report highlights a 'chilling effect' where venues and councils cancel events due to security concerns and threats of violence.

The report finds that global coal mine methane (CMM) emissions may be up to twice as high as government figures reported to the UNFCCC. It highlights a systemic failure in measurement, noting that 97% of reported emissions rely on generic emission factors rather than direct measurement. The analysis identifies 22 countries that may be underreporting emissions by more than 100%, with severe discrepancies noted in South Africa, Indonesia, and Germany. Ember recommends mandatory direct measurement for all mines, the use of satellite verification, and international financial support for low-income countries to implement these standards.

Ember's analysis reveals that 97% of reported coal mine methane (CMM) emissions are based on emission factors rather than direct measurements, leading to widespread underreporting. The report finds that 22 countries may have more than double the emissions they officially report, with extreme discrepancies noted in South Africa, Indonesia, and Germany. Only 44 countries published CMM data for 2021, and many major producers, including China and India, have not reported recently.

Ember's analysis indicates that Whitehaven Coal Limited could release over 1.2 million tonnes of methane by 2050, with emissions potentially doubling by 2030 due to planned expansions. The report highlights severe discrepancies in reporting, noting that the Narrabri mine's actual emissions have been nearly five times higher than final EIS estimates. Ember argues that Whitehaven's use of internal emission factors for open-cut mines—which are often significantly lower than Australian averages—leads to underreporting. The report recommends third-party verification, improved transparency, and a 75% reduction in portfolio-wide methane emissions by 2030 to align with 1.5 degree pathways.

The report defines relinquishment as the legal transfer of responsibility for a closed mine site from the operator to the next landowner after closure commitments are fulfilled. It identifies a global gap in clear relinquishment policies, noting that many jurisdictions either lack such frameworks or have processes that are difficult to achieve due to government risk aversion. The document highlights successful models in Saskatchewan, Queensland, and Chile, and proposes a six-step policy framework: requiring comprehensive closure plans, conducting independent inspections, establishing residual risk management plans, creating funding mechanisms, executing legal transfers, and implementing long-term monitoring.

The report defines restitution as the legal transfer of responsibility for a mine site from the operator to a new owner after closure activities are completed and approved. It argues that current global practices are often insufficient, leading to indefinitely managed sites or abandoned mines. The document outlines six recommended steps for governments: requiring comprehensive closure plans, conducting independent inspections, establishing residual risk management plans, creating funding mechanisms, executing legal transfers, and implementing long-term monitoring. It highlights successful models in Saskatchewan, Queensland, and Chile, while noting that risk aversion and lack of clear legal frameworks often hinder restitution in developed mining jurisdictions.

The document defines mine relinquishment as the legal transfer of responsibility for a closed mine site once closure obligations are met. It argues that a lack of clear relinquishment policies leads to sites remaining indefinitely with operators or being abandoned. The report analyzes practices across 40+ jurisdictions, highlighting successful models in Saskatchewan, Queensland, and Chile. It proposes a six-step process: requiring comprehensive closure plans, conducting independent inspections, planning for residual risk management, establishing funding mechanisms, executing legal transfers, and implementing long-term monitoring.

Ember argues that Australia's coal mine methane emissions are significantly under-reported and that the current Safeguard Mechanism is insufficient to drive necessary reductions. The report recommends a 78% reduction in coal mine methane by 2030-2035, achieved through a combination of onsite mitigation and a phaseout of thermal coal mining. To support this, Ember urges the Climate Change Authority to implement a national methane action plan, establish a standalone methane reduction target in the next Nationally Determined Contribution, and overhaul the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting (NGER) framework to replace generic emission factors with direct, site-specific measurements.

Ember's analysis suggests that the Lake Vermont mine extension may underestimate its methane emissions by 2.2 to 2.5 times, potentially releasing up to 100 million tonnes of CO2-e by 2055. The report argues that the project lacks a credible emissions reduction pathway and poses a risk to Australia's Safeguard Mechanism and national climate targets.

Ember submits that Method 1 for estimating methane emissions from Queensland open cut coal mines is inadequate because it relies on State-based averages that ignore spatial and temporal variability and disguise 'super emitters'. The document recommends phasing out Method 1 in favor of a multi-input measurement model combining geotechnical cores, drones, fixed monitoring, and satellite verification to ensure accurate reporting and support Australia's climate targets.

The document presents an 'integrated' or 'extended' CBA model designed for the Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA) to value 'betterment' road projects—investments that build infrastructure to a higher resilience standard than original specifications. Unlike traditional CBAs that focus on direct avoided reconstruction costs, this model incorporates 15 non-road indicators, including mental health impacts, market access for agriculture, and environmental externalities. Through case studies, such as the Aurukun Access Road, the report demonstrates that including these indirect and induced benefits can significantly alter the perceived economic viability of a project, potentially justifying investments that would otherwise appear financially non-viable.

The report identifies ten key components of a strong ESIA legal framework and evaluates their application in three jurisdictions. California is highlighted for its rigorous environmental review and climate change integration, Kazakhstan for its recent legislative updates aligned with EU standards, and Queensland for its comprehensive framework and use of internal audits to address rehabilitation liabilities and corruption risks.