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Public Comments to Australia’s Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water on the reconsideration of 15 coal projects
Ember argues that approving 15 reconsidered coal projects would increase Australia's annual coal mine methane emissions by approximately 190 thousand tonnes. The organization emphasizes that meeting the 1.5C warming limit requires a 75% reduction in energy sector methane emissions by 2030, which cannot be achieved through mitigation technology alone without reducing coal production. Ember specifically recommends closing the gassiest thermal coal mines and avoiding new thermal coal mines, while suggesting that metallurgical coal mines only be approved if they employ available mitigation technologies and cooperate with the UNEP’s International Methane Emissions Observatory.
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Document type: Statement
Feedback to New South Wales’ Environment Protection Authority’s Public Consultation on the draft Climate Change Policy and draft Action Plan 2022-2025
The document argues that coal mine methane (CMM) is a critical but underreported driver of emissions in New South Wales, accounting for over 90% of the state's energy sector methane emissions. Ember proposes two new pillars for the NSW EPA's Action Plan: 'Inform and Plan' and 'Mitigate'. The 'Inform and Plan' pillar suggests collaborating with international initiatives like the International Methane Emissions Observatory and implementing high-tier IPCC measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) methodologies to address reporting gaps. The 'Mitigate' pillar recommends a 75% reduction target for methane emissions by 2030, the closure of 'gassy' thermal coal mines, and a commitment to no new coal mines or expansions. The report highlights that current reporting may be significantly underestimated, citing IEA estimates that Australia's reported CMM emissions could be missing 800 thousand tonnes.
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Document type: Report
Australia’s coal mines can deliver two thirds of methane cuts
Australia could reduce its annual methane emissions by 18% by 2030 by focusing on coal mine methane (CMM) mitigation. The report argues that CMM is one of the cheapest and fastest sources of methane to mitigate, costing approximately $270 AUD per tonne of methane, which is four times cheaper than agricultural mitigation. Key recommendations include phasing out thermal coal mines by 2030, preventing new coal mine expansions, and implementing technical solutions like ventilation air methane (VAM) capture and extensive drainage. The report also warns that current reporting is likely underestimated, citing the IEA's estimate that 800 thousand tonnes of methane are missing from reported figures.
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Document type: Report
Daniel Billy et al v Australia
The UN Human Rights Committee ruled that Australia violated the rights to family, home, and culture of Torres Strait Islanders due to inadequate climate adaptation. The decision establishes a precedent for state responsibility for climate-related 'loss and damage' and mandates that Australia provide compensation and secure the communities' continued existence on their islands.
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Document type: Briefing
Daniel Billy and Others v Australia (Torres Strait Islanders Petition)
The United Nations Human Rights Committee ruled that Australia violated the rights of indigenous Torres Strait Islanders to enjoy their culture and be free from arbitrary interference with their private life, family, and home due to inadequate climate change protections. The petitioners, inhabitants of Boigu, Poruma, Warraber, and Masig islands, argued that sea level rise and extreme weather destroyed ancestral graves, degraded traditional food sources, and threatened their cultural ceremonies. While Australia constructed new seawalls expected to be completed by 2023, the Committee found these measures insufficient and ordered Australia to compensate the Islanders, engage in meaningful consultations, and secure the communities' safe existence on their islands.
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Document type: Legal commentary
Tackling Australia’s Coal Mine Methane Problem
Australia's coal mines are a major source of methane, with evidence suggesting official reports significantly underestimate the actual emissions. The report highlights that a small number of 'super-emitter' mines contribute a disproportionate amount of emissions and warns that proposed new coal projects will further increase these levels. It advocates for a transition to direct measurement over emission factors, the adoption of ventilation air methane (VAM) abatement technologies, and the phasing out of coal, particularly the gassiest mines, to meet climate targets.
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Document type: Report
AUSTRALIAN WILDLIFE & NATURE RECOVERY FUND RESPOND, RESTORE, AND BUILD A RESILIENT FUTURE
The WWF Australian Wildlife & Nature Recovery Fund raised $50 million to address the catastrophic 2019-2020 bushfires, which burned over 29 million acres of forest and killed or displaced nearly 3 billion animals. The fund's activities were divided into three phases: immediate emergency response (Phase I), landscape restoration and protection (Phase II), and long-term societal future-proofing (Phase III). Key investments included $10 million for Indigenous engagement to incorporate traditional fire management, $9 million for species recovery and adaptation, and $8 million to stabilize climate change. Specific projects included the deployment of seed drones to restore koala habitats, the establishment of a wildlife hospital in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, and the development of fire-resistant nest boxes for the greater glider. The fund's work has transitioned into a five-year comprehensive campaign called 'Regenerate Australia' to mitigate future climate events.
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Document type: Report
SIZING UP COAL MINE METHANE
Global Energy Monitor (GEM) finds that operating coal mines emit 52.3 million tonnes of methane per year, exceeding IEA estimates for oil and gas. The analysis identifies China, specifically Shanxi province, as the primary source of these emissions. GEM warns that proposed mine projects could add another 11.3 million tonnes annually, effectively locking in emissions equivalent to the coal-based CO2 emissions of the United States. To meet Net Zero 2030 targets, the report argues for a faster coal phase-out and the cancellation of new projects, as current mitigation measures are often insufficient or circumvented.
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Document type: Report
WOMEN AND THE MINE OF THE FUTURE
The report examines the status of women in the Australian large-scale mining sector from 2010/11 to 2020/21. It finds that while women's participation is increasing, the sector remains heavily male-dominated, with significant gender gaps in technical roles, pay, and leadership. Women are over-represented in clerical roles and part-time employment, and they face barriers such as the remoteness of mine sites and a lack of support for care responsibilities. The study highlights a significant gender pay gap and the underutilisation of STEM-qualified women. It recommends organisational policy reforms, targeted capacity building in mining technology, and improved gender-disaggregated data collection to foster a more inclusive industry.
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Document type: Report
247Solar – Hybrid-renewable energy grid for mining & local community (Australia)
The 247Solar project in Queensland, Australia, aims to deploy a hot-air-driven Brayton Cycle system to provide 100% of the electricity for a mine, its campsite, and an export jetty, while meeting 50% of a local aboriginal community's demand. The project expects to reduce the carbon footprint by 90%, lower energy costs by 25%, and create approximately 350 local jobs, supported by funding from the Queensland State Government and the Australian Federal Government (ARENA).
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Document type: Case study
Cegasa – PV System with Energy Storage for the Rangers HQ Fraser Island, Queensland (Australia)
A case study on an off-grid hybrid solar power plant at the Rangers Headquarters on Fraser Island, Australia, featuring 81.34 kWp PV and 464 kWh of Cegasa lithium LFP battery storage, aiming for an 80% reduction in diesel use.
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Document type: Case study
GLOBAL REVIEW: Financial assurance governance for the post-mining transition
The report examines the mechanisms used to ensure mining companies provide sufficient funds for environmental rehabilitation if they fail to meet closure obligations. It details various financial instruments, cost estimation methodologies, and policy requirements from leading jurisdictions including Australia, Canada, Germany, South Africa, and the United States.
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Document type: Report
Deep Trouble
The report finds that 2,277 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of new coal mining capacity is under development globally, with 614 mtpa already under construction. This expansion is heavily concentrated in China, Australia, India, and Russia, which together represent 77% of global development. The authors argue that this trajectory is incompatible with the Paris Agreement, as coal production would need to decline 11% annually through 2030 to limit warming to 1.5°C. If all proposed capacity is realized, 2030 production would be over four times the 1.5°C-compliant pathway. The report also highlights a potential $91 billion USD in stranded assets and significant greenhouse gas emissions, estimated between 5,000 and 5,800 Mt of CO2-equivalent annually from these projects.
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Document type: Report
The Limits of Livability
The document examines the severe health consequences of the 2019-2020 Australian bushfires, noting that 80% of the population was affected by poor air quality. It highlights a critical gap in government preparation for long-term smoke exposure and recommends the implementation of 'Smoke Plans', real-time air quality monitoring, and the adoption of Indigenous 'cultural burns' to reduce fire intensity. The briefing concludes that Australia must transition away from fossil fuel subsidies and embrace renewable energy to mitigate future climate-driven wildfire risks.
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Document type: Briefing
Joint Stakeholder Submission to the Universal Periodic Review of Australia
The document asserts that Australia's climate policies and continued reliance on fossil fuels violate human rights both domestically and internationally. It highlights the severe impacts of climate change on Australian health, ecosystems, and Indigenous communities, while criticizing the government's use of 'carryover credits' to artificially meet emissions targets. Furthermore, it denounces the use of anti-protest laws and attacks on the charitable status of NGOs to stifle climate activism.
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Document type: Report
WWF-AUSTRALIA BUSHFIRE RESPONSE
The document outlines WWF-Australia's two-wave response to the 2019-2020 bushfires. Wave 1 focused on emergency wildlife response, including food drops for brush-tailed rock-wallabies, veterinary triage for koalas, and monitoring the Kangaroo Island dunnart. Wave 2 shifts toward long-term goals: protecting unburnt habitat, advocating for the 'endangered' listing of koalas under the EPBC Act, and promoting Australia as a renewable energy exporter by 2030. The response integrates corporate partnerships and traditional owner knowledge to future-proof landscapes against a warming climate.
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Document type: Report
WWF-Australia’s Response Framework
WWF-Australia has implemented a two-wave response to the 2019/20 bushfires. Wave 1 focuses on immediate wildlife response, including a $30 million budget for rescue operations, species assessments, and reporting animal fatalities. Wave 2 focuses on future-proofing through habitat protection, legal reviews of nature laws, and transitioning Australia toward renewable energy. The framework emphasizes the link between climate change and fire intensity, advocating for a 'New Deal for people and wildlife' and increased indigenous ranger capacity.
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Document type: Report
Australian fires and climate change
The document details the extreme scale of the Australian fire season, noting that over 15 million acres burned. It attributes the increase in dangerous long-term conditions for bushfires to climate change, which has led to an earlier start of the fire season and record-breaking heat and dryness in 2019.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Designing Local Content Policies in Mineral-Rich Countries
The report analyzes local content policies (LCPs) used by mineral-rich nations to increase the use of domestic labor, goods, and services in the mining sector. It details various policy instruments—ranging from mandatory quotas and ownership requirements to government incentives and voluntary business initiatives—and examines their practical application in countries such as Norway, Chile, Ghana, and Brazil. The document argues that LCPs often fail when implemented as blanket provisions without clear objectives or sufficient industrial capacity. It identifies critical prerequisites for success, including institutional readiness, a favorable business climate, and a long-term vision that transcends political cycles. The report concludes that effective LCPs require a combination of quantitative and qualitative measures, robust monitoring through key performance indicators, and strong partnerships between governments, mining firms, and local suppliers to ensure sustainable economic diversification.
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Document type: Report
The Carbon-Free Regions Handbook: Finance
The document outlines four primary categories of financial interventions for regional governments to accelerate the energy transition: increasing capital availability, implementing first-cost solutions, creating market incentives, and reducing procurement costs. It details specific mechanisms such as green investment banks, energy savings performance contracts, carbon pricing, and reverse auctions, providing examples of legislation and programs from various global jurisdictions to illustrate their application.
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Document type: Guide