Australia Rejects First Coal Mine Under Environmental Law (1)

Top coal exporter Australia has blocked a major mine proposed near the Great Barrier Reef under environmental laws.

Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek announced her final decision on the Central Queensland Coal Project on Twitter on Wednesday, saying in a video that she had received more than 9,000 public submissions on the mine in just 10 business days.

It is the first time that an Australian minister has rejected a proposed coal mine under the country’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. That marks a major turnaround for Australia, long seen as a global climate laggard and one of the world’s ...