新南威爾斯土地與環境法庭20日裁決百年煤礦股份有限公司並無足夠的溫室效應氣體排放額度來開發鐵砧山礦區。因為如果核准採礦，燃燒的煤礦將釋出溫室效應氣體。法官潘恩（Nicola Pain)也裁定否決了新南威爾斯計畫部對礦區所作的環境影響評估。
百年煤礦公司是澳洲最大的獨立煤礦生產公司，在新南威爾斯開採了11座礦場，以供應發電廠、企業及外銷市場。
這個官司是由一位26歲新堡大學的學生葛雷所提出，控告百年煤礦公司及新南威爾斯計畫部。葛雷成功地提出任何在鐵砧山的煤礦開發都應該算入氣候變遷的衝擊這個想法，甚至多年後在外國燒煤所製造的排放量都應納入。
新南威爾斯計畫部部長沙特（Frank Sartor）說，潘恩法官判決的結果將對澳洲許多企業造成痛苦，「不要低估會有多少企業因此而受影響。」針對此案，新南威爾斯政府將尋求上訴。
綠色和平能源運動負責人皮爾森將此判決視為封鎖通往新礦開發的道路。「這是個歷史性的決定，」他說。「如果你將氣候變遷的衝擊納入，新礦區應禁止開發。
綠色和平組織致力於反對鐵砧山煤礦的開採許可。24日，10位綠色和平抗議人士闖入百年煤礦公司在雪梨的年度會議，並在會場懸掛「百年煤礦=氣候變遷」的布條。9位抗議人士被便衣警察拖出會議室，另一位被逮捕，但隨後無罪開釋。
澳洲現在是世界上最大的煤礦開採國，尤以黑煤礦為澳洲開採最大宗。2005年的開採量達222億澳幣。
皮爾森表示，「法庭已然了解採礦與氣候變遷的關係，而且現在也該是讓政府明瞭這點的時候了。」以鐵砧山的抗議為始，綠色和平和其他的環境團體積極地反對所有在新南威爾斯的新開礦計畫，並推動更多再生能源的發展。
The New South Wales Land and Environment Court decided Tuesday that Centennial Coal Company Ltd, developer of the Anvil Hill mine, failed to adequately account for the greenhouse gas emissions from burning the coal that the mine would produce if approved. Justice Nicola Pain ruled that the New South Wales Department of Planning approval of the mine's environment assessment was void.
Centennial Coal is Australia's largest independent coal producer. It operates 11 mines in New South Wales, supplying power plants, industries, and export markets.
The case was brought by Peter Gray, a 26 year old student at the University of Newcastle, who sued Centennial Coal and the New South Wales Department of Planning. Gray successfully argued that any approval of the Anvil Hill coal mine should take into account the impact of climate change, even emissions created by burning the coal years later in foreign countries.
New South Wales Planning Minister Frank Sartor said the effect of Justice Pain's ruling could be painful for much of Australian industry. "Don't underestimate how many industries could be touched by this." The New South Wales government is likely to appeal against the ruling.
Greenpeace energy campaigner Ben Pearson interprets the decision as a blockade on the road to new mine development. "This is an historic ruling," he said. "If you factor in climate change impacts, new mines just cannot be allowed to go ahead."
Greenpeace has been campaigning against approval of the Anvil Hill Mine. On Friday, 10 Greenpeacers entered Centennial Coal’s annual general meeting in Sydney to hang a banner reading "Centennial Coal = Climate Change." Nine activists were dragged from the room by plain clothes police while the other activist was arrested but released without charges.
Australia is the world's biggest coal exporter, and black coal is Australia's largest export, worth around $A22.2 billion in calendar year 2005.
Pearson said, "The court has recognized the link between coal and climate change and it’s time for government to do the same." Greenpeace and other environment groups are calling for an immediate moratorium on all new coal projects in New South Wales, starting with the rejection of Anvil Hill, and more renewable energy development.
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In my healing journey and learning to attain the breath awareness, I become aware of the reality that all the creatures of the world are breathing the same breath. Take action, here and now. From my physical being to the every corner of this out of balance's planet.
