The Australian Conservation Foundation will not give up its efforts to stop Adani’s massive Carmichael coal mine, despite the Federal Court dismissing ACF’s challenge to the federal government’s approval of the mine.

The Australian Conservation Foundation will not give up its efforts to stop Adani’s massive Carmichael coal mine, despite the Federal Court dismissing ACF’s challenge to the federal government’s approval of the mine.

The Federal Court today dismissed ACF’s challenge.

“Most Australians would be shocked that the government can legally approve the biggest coal mine in Australia’s history, when this year the Great Barrier Reef has suffered the worst coral bleaching on record – a direct result of global warming,” said ACF’s CEO Kelly O’Shanassy.

“If the Carmichael mine proceeds its coal will create 4.7 billion tonnes of climate pollution over the proposed life of the mine, wiping out Australia’s efforts to reduce pollution and contributing to more frequent and severe bleaching events on the reef.

“It is extraordinary that in 2016 a Federal Environment Minister can argue in court that a mega-polluting coal mine will have no impact on the climate and the Great Barrier Reef.

“Australia’s environment laws are broken if they cannot account for the impacts of global warming on the reef, one of our country’s most loved national treasures.

“The Australian Conservation Foundation was formed half a century ago to protect the Great Barrier Reef from limestone and gas mining.

“Today, we must – and we will – continue to stand up and speak out to protect the reef from the impact coal mining is having on it.

“We call on the new Minister for Environment & Energy, Josh Frydenberg, to reconsider the previous minister’s approval of this dangerous mine and to fix Australia’s broken environment laws that allowed such a polluting mine to be approved.

“We are not giving up,” Ms O’Shanassy said. “Poll after poll shows Australians want a healthy reef, not more polluting coal.

“We’ll do everything we can to stop this mine.”