The Australia Institute welcomes the opportunity to comment on proposed conditions of the United Wambo coal mine project relating to climate change. The Independent Planning Commission is to be commended for raising the elephant in the room of Australia’s climate policy – our coal exports and the scope three emissions that they create. 

In the absence of any other approach to addressing scope three emissions from this coal mine, we support the implementation of an Export Management Plan. However, the condition as proposed will have minimal impact on scope three emissions from the mine. Below we suggest how the proposed condition can be strengthened and outline an alternative approach involving regular review of approved production levels.