---
title: Coal in permanent decline
description: Coal is in permanent decline with Australia’s key allies turning to renewable energy in response to the energy crisis and high prices, according to IEEFA.
---

[![Greenpeace](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/hs-fs/hubfs/GPAP-Master-Logo-Green-RGB_Web-1.png?width=2259&height=348&name=GPAP-Master-Logo-Green-RGB_Web-1.png "Greenpeace")](https://www.greenpeace.org.au)

[![Canopy Logo](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/hubfs/raw_assets/public/gpap-main-theme/images/the-canopy/the-canopy-logo.png)](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy)

The Canopy is a weekday morning email newsletter provided by the team at Greenpeace Australia Pacific.

# Coal in permanent decline

Wednesday, 7 September 2022

Coal is in permanent decline with Australia’s key allies turning to renewable energy and away from coal-fired power in response to the energy crisis and high prices, according to the independent Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis.

But the NSW Independent Planning Commission doesn't seem to have gotten the message, approving a Hunter Valley coal mine to extend its life to 2048.

And protesters in northern NSW have been locking themselves onto harvesting equipment in the Ellis State Forest where they say logging is destroying key koala habitats when the species is at its most vulnerable.

[Aussie coal in permanent decline as renewables, energy crisis take toll](https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/2022/09/07/aussie-coal-permanent-decline-report/)

State budgets may be raking in royalties from thermal coal exports now but governments need to prepare for a bleaker future, including job losses. A report by the independent Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis shows key allies are turning to renewable energy and away from coal-fired power in response to the energy crisis and high prices.

[NSW Independent Planning Commission approves extension of Mount Pleasant coal mine](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-09-06/mount-pleasant-coal-mine-extension-approved/101411186)

The New South Wales Independent Planning Commission (IPC) has approved the Mount Pleasant Optimisation Project, which will allow a Hunter Valley coal mine to extend its life to 2048.

[‘Tragic legacy of extinction’: Australia gets an ‘F’ in biodiversity](https://app.meltwater.com/mwTransition/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.brisbanetimes.com.au%2Fenvironment%2Fconservation%2Ftragic-legacy-of-extinction-australia-gets-an-f-in-biodiversity-20220906-p5bfob.html&uId=5a778e7a00aa2026a265262c&cId=5a71496272d9dc241933e61d&contextId=6317a6fab8af3d4c74abec30&dId=j3yp7nFoXmh76-LSArU-VDd5r4c&op=open&sentiment=N&isHosted=false&id=18347420&name=Federal%20Election%202022&type=search&s=mail-digest)

Australia is failing to halt the decline of many endangered species, with a new scorecard revealing that in some federal electorates, hundreds of animals and plants are under threat.

[NSW government delays delivering electric bus fleet by at least five years](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-09-06/nsw-government-green-bus-plan-delayed-by-five-years/101410796)

A plan to ditch 8,000 diesel buses in Sydney for an electric fleet is being delayed by at least five years. 

[Environmentalists, NSW Forestry Corporation at loggerheads over native timber harvesting in key koala habitat](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-09-07/anti-logging-protests-koala-habitat-mid-north-coast-nsw-forestry/101391074)

Protesters have been locking themselves onto harvesting equipment in the Ellis State Forest, west of Coffs Harbour, and others have entered restricted logging areas to monitor operations. They say logging in these areas is destroying key koala habitats when the species is at its most vulnerable.

[Out of thin air: new solar-powered invention creates hydrogen fuel from the atmosphere](https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/sep/07/out-of-thin-air-new-solar-powered-invention-creates-hydrogen-fuel-from-the-atmosphere)

Researchers have created a solar-powered device that produces hydrogen fuel directly from moisture in the air.

[Thwaites 'doomsday' glacier could begin rapid melt with 'just a small kick', researchers say](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-09-07/thwaites-doomsday-glacier/101412096)

Scientists have used an unmanned submarine to map underwater terrain near a massive melting glacier in West Antarctica for the first time, showing it has the potential to retreat at twice the speed observed by satellites over the past decade.

[Coal](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/tag/coal), [gas](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/tag/gas), [energy policy](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/tag/energy-policy), [climate change](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/tag/climate-change), [fossil fuel](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/tag/fossil-fuel)

### Will you share with your friends?

[Share on Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/coal-in-permanent-decline%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_term%3Dsocial%2Bshare%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [Share on Whatsapp](whatsapp://send?text=Check%20out%20this%20thing%20from%20Greenpeace!%20https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/coal-in-permanent-decline%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_term%3Dsocial%2Bshare%26utm_source%3Dwhatsapp) [Share on Twitter](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/coal-in-permanent-decline%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_term%3Dsocial%2Bshare%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/coal-in-permanent-decline%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_term%3Dsocial%2Bshare%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=) 

[Go to the website](https://www.greenpeace.org.au/)

## More news

### [No time for half measures as AEMO’s 30-year electricity market roadmap urges renewables boom](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/no-time-for-half-measures-as-aemos-30-year-electricity-market-roadmap-urges-renewables-boom)

The path to Australia’s clean energy future is clear and we must act now as the Australian Energy...

### [Emissions are down, no thanks to the Federal Government](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/emissions-are-down-no-thanks-to-the-federal-government)

Australia’s latest quarterly emissions data is out - emissions have dropped as coal is squeezed out...

### [Coal boss turning off coal](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/the-canopy/coal-boss-turning-off-coal)

On the day Origin Energy lost more than $2.3 billion, the company's CEO has declared that baseload...

Work like this is only made possible by our supporters. Greenpeace accepts NO government funding or corporate donations to remain impartial. To amplify meaningful climate activism in Australia, ***become a regular giver today.***

[Donate to Support Greenpeace](https://donate.greenpeace.org.au/)

[![Greenpeace](https://blog.greenpeace.org.au/hs-fs/hubfs/GPAP-Master-Logo-Green-RGB_Web-1.png?width=2259&height=348&name=GPAP-Master-Logo-Green-RGB_Web-1.png "Greenpeace")](https://www.greenpeace.org.au/)

Connect with us <https://www.facebook.com/greenpeaceaustraliapacific/> <https://twitter.com/greenpeaceap?lang=en> <https://www.youtube.com/user/GreenpeaceAustralia> <https://www.instagram.com/greenpeaceap/>

**Call:** [1800 815 151](tel:1800815151)

 Our team acknowledges that we meet and work on the land of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We wish to pay respect to their Elders — past, present and future — and acknowledge the important role all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people continue to play within Australia, the environmental movement and the Greenpeace crew.

© Greenpeace 2026. [Privacy Policy.](https://www.greenpeace.org.au/privacy-policy/)