Latest NSW data confirms coal industry leading on emissions reductions

According to the NSW Government’s own analysis, the coal industry is leading the way on emissions reductions and on track to contribute to legislated NSW targets.

Analysis of the latest data released by the NSW and Commonwealth Governments shows the industry’s net emissions have already dropped 35% since 2005 and are on track to fall by 50% in 2030, in line with NSW’s legislated emission reduction targets.

“Coal mining makes up just 13 per cent of the State’s emissions and the industry’s direct emissions have fallen by 30 per cent since 2005, which is faster than the NSW state average and any other sector, “ NSW Minerals Council CEO Stephen Galilee said today.

“Once the impact of the Safeguard Mechanism is factored in, net emissions from the NSW coal mining sector have fallen by 35 per cent since 2005. The NSW Government’s analysis also shows NSW coal mining emissions are on track to meet the legislated NSW 50 percent net emissions reduction target by 2030.”

“The NSW coal industry is taking action to reduce emissions, with more than 4 million tonnes of emissions directly abated in 2024. A wide range of new emissions reduction projects are also being pursued across the coal mining industry including new fugitive emission reduction projects and trials to reduce emissions from diesel mining equipment.”

While the state’s overall progress towards the NSW Government’s legislated emissions reduction targets has deteriorated slightly since last year’s update, this has been largely driven by the deteriorating outlook in emissions forecasts for other sectors.

In contrast, the emissions forecast for the coal mining sector has been revised down again, with a reduction in the peak fugitive emissions forecast of almost 1 million tonnes. This continues the pattern of downwards revisions in emissions forecasts for the NSW coal sector in every year that these forecasts have been updated.

“Each year, the coal mining industry’s actual emissions have come in well below NSW Government forecasts. In 2024, the overestimation was around 3 million tonnes, or 20%.”

“While ongoing improvements to the accuracy of the NSW Government’s future emissions forecasts are welcome, questions regarding their accuracy still remain, given each year the coal industry’s actual emissions have been well below previous NSW Government forecasts.”