Climate targets cooked without methane action: report
Improving methane capture at six high-emission coal mines appears to be a state’s best option for meeting climate goals.
A report published by climate advisory group Common Capital said NSW could help meet emissions targets with best practice reductions at six mines that produce half the state’s coal mine emissions despite providing less than 10 per cent of coal.
The NSW Net Zero Commission admits the state is not on track to meet statutory targets for both 2030 and 2035, and a “major” extension of coal projects would put pressure on other sectors to meet those targets.
Methane, which accounts for more than a quarter of NSW emissions, is the largest contributor of greenhouse gases from coal mines through its release from coal seams.
Almost all (96 per cent) of NSW’s resource sector emissions come from coal mining; That means six high-emission mines contribute about six percent of the state’s overall emissions.
“There are two key opportunities to reduce coal sector emissions and close the emissions gap in NSW: incentivising reductions in the six most emissions-intensive mines and managing approval of coal mine projects currently included in NSW emissions estimates,” the Common Capital report says.
“This would nearly close the projected emissions gap in 2030 and reduce the 2035 gap by a third.”
The report describes the potential gains as “ready-made” and also notes that they are cheaper and more feasible in the near term than reductions in other sectors.
Both Joint Capital and the Net Zero Commission will give evidence to the NSW parliamentary inquiry into emissions from the fossil fuel sector on Friday.
The commission says 87 per cent of NSW coal is exported.
“These ‘scope 3’ emissions mostly originate overseas, but their impacts are felt both globally and locally in NSW,” he says.
“They cause rising temperatures and climate instability, making it more difficult to adapt to the effects of climate change.”
The NSW Minerals Council said it had undertaken numerous mitigation efforts targeting methane, resulting in a 45 per cent drop in its emissions since 2005.
“Fugitive methane emissions from coal mines fell by 10 per cent over the three years between 2020 and 2023, according to data from the NSW Net Zero Dashboard,” the investigation said.
“As highlighted in the terms of reference, the industry is pursuing further fugitive emissions reduction opportunities targeting methane reduction.”
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