Hunter Valley coal mine appeal denied

MELBOURNE: Developers have lost a court appeal to build a coal mine in Australia’s Hunter Valley over its potentially ‘‘dire’’ environmental impact, after the country’s first legal review of a coal mine project to hear evidence from a climate scientist.

In the landmark ruling, Justice Brian Preston denied the appeal on the Rocky Hill project in New South Wales state.

He cited an increase in greenhouse gas emissions, as well as uncertain economic benefits and adverse social and visual impacts.

Australia is the world’s biggest coal exporter and the fuel is its largest resources earner.

In his ruling, the judge found that mine and associated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions would add to the global total ‘‘at a time when what is now urgently needed, in order to meet generally agreed climate targets, is a rapid and deep decrease in GHG emissions’’.