A landmark legal case against the proposed Alpha coal mine in central Queensland will hear the project should not go ahead on the grounds it could increase global warming.

Mining magnate Gina Rinehart and GVK's mine has been forecast to produce 30 million tonnes of coal per year and create 2,000 long-term jobs during its 30-plus years of operation.

Environmental group Coast and Country is fighting the project on the basis that emissions from the transport and burning of the project's coal would contribute to "dangerous global warming".

The case is due to be heard in the Court of Appeal in Brisbane today.

Jo-anne Bragg from the Environmental Defenders Office Queensland, which is representing Coast and Country, said the case could set an important precedent.

"We are focused on the impacts of this project, not the hypothetical impacts of another coal proposal," she said.

"This is the first time Queensland's highest court — the Court of Appeal — is considering the Environmental Protection Act and climate change.

"If we win — and we do expect to win — it would have important precedent value as to how coal projects, in fact all projects, are assessed in Queensland and maybe other states."

Jobs potential 'does not justify mine going ahead'

Derec Davies from Coast and Country said the Queensland Government and GVK Hancock had argued there would be no decrease in global carbon emissions if the Alpha coal mine did not proceed "because another mine will be developed somewhere else in the world to fill its place".

"Under Queensland law, causing 'serious environmental harm' is a crime unless authorised by the government," he said.

"Justification to allow a crime should not be given on the basis that another person might cause the same harm."

GVK Hancock said it had complied with all environmental regulations set before them and met the legal requirements of numerous court challenges.

"To date, we have invested tens of millions of dollars on a broad range of environmental assessments that contributed to our environmental approvals," a spokesman said.

"Our Alpha Coal Project has been a project of state significance since October 2008 and we will continue to work within legislative framework to advance our projects to a point where construction can commence."

Mr Davies said the project's potential to provide thousands of jobs did not justify it going ahead.

"It's an unfortunate reality we have to deal with in light of climate change and what we've seen in recent weeks with devastation on Great Barrier Reef show it's a situation we can't afford," he said.

"It's up to the Queensland Government and the labour force that are traditionally working in mines to look to transition to some sustainable future jobs."