Coal industry will be big loser from Paris climate deal

A global agreement at the Paris climate change negotiations at the end of 2015 will cut the value of Australian coal exports by 8% over the next 15 years and contract the economy by 1.6% if governments around the world implement the policies they have proposed, according to the Australian Financial Review.

A study by economist and former Reserve Bank of Australia board member Warwick McKibbin shows that the coal industry, one of Australia's biggest exporters, is shaping up as one of the big losers from pledges by China, Japan, the United States and Europe to curb carbon emissions.

Environmental Defenders Office raises litigation fighting fund

Environmental Defenders Office centres in New South Wales and Queensland are raising money for a “climate fighting fund” to help pay for litigation against big mining projects, according to the Australian Financial Review.

EDO Queensland chief executive Jo-Anne Bragg said since the EDO Climate Litigation Fund was established earlier in August almost $12,000 had been raised, with a goal of $50,000.

Santos gets early approval for CSG treatment plant

The New South Wales government has been accused of making a “reckless” decision to give conditional approval for a coal seam gas desalination plant one of its own agencies said could pose a “significant environment risk”, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

Santos has won approval for its Leewood Produced Water and Beneficial Reuse Project for its proposed CSG field at Narrabri even though the company is yet to submit detailed water treatment and irrigation plans, nor been given a deadline to submit them.