NSW Minerals Council Energy, Climate Change and Emissions Policy
The NSW Minerals Council acknowledges that sustained global action is required to reduce the risks of human-induced climate change.
The NSW Minerals Council supports a measured transition to a net-zero emissions global economy and Australia’s participation in global agreements, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The NSW Minerals Council supports the NSW Government and Australian Government target of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050.
Mineral resources are NSW’s most valuable export and the NSW mining sector underpins many regional economies and communities across the State. The sector is a large energy user as well as a strategic supplier of energy and raw materials in NSW and in our export markets.
The NSW Minerals Council supports policy frameworks that are consistent with agreed international frameworks, and with achieving the NSW and Australian Government target of net zero emissions by 2050. These policy frameworks should:
- Aim for a nationally coordinated approach to climate and energy policy that recognises the energy and resource-intensive nature of the Australian economy.
- Provide industry with the certainty needed to make long-term investments.
- Maintain the international competitiveness of the NSW minerals industry, including maintaining energy security, reliability and affordability, so that NSW can benefit from the growing global demand for minerals and to minimise the potential for adverse social and economic impacts.
- Provide for least-cost abatement of greenhouse gas emissions and recognise that all sectors of the economy have a role to play in meeting emission reduction goals, including the resources sector.
- Adopt a technology-neutral approach, recognising that the scale and complexity of reaching net-zero emissions will require a diverse range of technologies including renewables, energy storage, alternative fuels, nuclear power, advanced coal technology, CCUS (carbon capture, utilisation and storage) and access to a wide range of credible offsets.
- Support the research, development and deployment of new and emerging low-emissions technologies.
- Recognise the role of metals and rare earths in low emission technology and the significant increase in supply required to meet emission reduction goals, and actively pursue the economic opportunity this presents for NSW.
- Recognise the ongoing demand for NSW’s high-quality coal in our export markets and NSW’s role as a trusted partner in meeting the energy security and development goals of our trading partners for the foreseeable future.
To support the NSW Government and Australian Government to meet their emission reduction targets, the NSW Minerals Council and its members will:
- Play a constructive and positive role in the development of government policy and regulation.
- Promote best practice greenhouse gas emissions management at mine sites.
- Support the research and development of new technologies that will contribute to ongoing emissions reductions.
- Support the ongoing discovery and development of the State’s mineral resources to provide the raw materials required for low emissions technologies, and support the development of potential downstream value-adding industries in NSW.
- Support members’ participation in formal and voluntary programs to reduce emissions, such as the Minerals Council of Australia’s Climate Action Plan and international reporting frameworks.
Updated December 2021