In the wake of the Paris Agreement, pressure has intensified on the Australian government to reject Adani’s proposed Carmichael mine, which will be one of the biggest mines in the world.

In order to stay below 2℃, scientists have estimated that more that 90% of known coal reserves in Australia must stay in the ground. Depending on the economics of various coal reserves, this may mean the Galilee Basin is “unburnable coal”.

Yet, this mine has already been approved by the federal environment minister Greg Hunt, and on Tuesday Queensland’s Land Court also recommended approval of the mine.

At a federal level the mine has been approved, had its approval set aside, and then been re-approved. There is a final Federal Court challenge to be heard in 2016.

But is it even possible for the Australian government to reject the Carmichael coal mine? Or have we already gone too far down the path of approval?

Broadly speaking, there are three key approvals needed by a proponent to conduct a large mining operation in Queensland: a mining lease, issued by Queensland’s minister for natural resources and mines; an environmental authority, issued by Queensland’s Department of environment and heritage protection; and an approval under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act, issued by the federal environment minister.............
https://theconversation.com/theres-no-precedent-for-stopping-the-carmichael-coal-mine-but-we-should-52430

https://www.climatecouncil.org.au/uploads/af9ceab751ba2d0d3986ee39e1ef04fd.pdf

Adani's Galilee Basin mine caught up in legal blocking tactics, Queensland Resources Council says

The Queensland Resources Council (QRC) says it does not accept that Australia's largest proposed coal mine in the state's Galilee Basin may not go ahead.

An International Energy Agency (IEA) report said a weakening demand for coal, conservationists and legal trouble might put a stop to Adani's plans for the Galilee Basin Carmichael mine.

The IEA analysis of future coal trends found the mine would not be viable.....

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-19/adani-galilee-basin-mine-caught-up-in-legal-blocking-tactics-qrc/7043152