‘Koalas or coal mines, how the federal government can save Australia’s most iconic species’ - national report launched by alliance of climate and nature conservation groups
A new report launched this week by an alliance of climate advocacy and nature conservation groups highlights the shocking scale of planned koala habitat destruction by new coal mining projects seeking approval from the Albanese government.
The report ‘Koalas or coal mines, how the federal government can save Australia’s most iconic species’ analysed approval application documents for new coal mining projects currently undergoing assessment under the EPBC Act and seeking approval from Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek.
A total combined koala habitat to be cleared in Queensland is over 10,000ha. This is SHOCKING when both the federal government and state government have this precious species listed as endangered.
Climate change and habitat loss are the biggest threats to the survival of the koala. Stopping coal mines in koala habitat will address both of these threats.
Coal mining in Queensland is having disastrous impacts on Australia’s endangered koalas. Existing and proposed new coal mines are set to clear thousands of hectares of critically important Koala habitat - pushing this iconic animal closer to extinction.
You can read a report commissioned by our friends at Lock the Gate & Environmental Advocacy Central Queensland on the impacts of coal mines on koala habitat in the Bowen Basin here.
The report shows one third of the land covered by applications for new coal mining leases in QLD provides habitat for the endangered koala, covering around 123,000 ha, of which 42,500 ha is classified as koala habitat.
Australia is a global leader in extinction. The best way to save animals like the koala is to protect their habitat. All new coal mines and proposed expansions that impact koala habitat must be rejected.
More than 50 national, state and local climate and environment organisations, including, including The Australia Institute, Greenpeace and Queensland Conservation Council have signed on to a joint letter calling on Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek to reject new coal mine and coal mine expansions, currently being assessed under the EPBC Act, that will devastate endangered koala habitat. Read the joint letter.
How Can You Help?
Join us in calling on Australian Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek to STOP approving coal mines on koala habitat!
