The transition to a renewable society is our chance to protect and enhance biodiversity, while providing people with cheaper, cleaner energy.  

Instead, coal plants in NSW are reaping record profits while spewing out toxic pollution that is causing severe harm to human health, our waterways, wetlands and climate. 

The mining of coal to supply these plants is also a leading threat to nature in NSW - for example the plan to destroy vast swathes of the Gardens of Stone in the Blue Mountains.  

The Gardens of Stone (Credit: Henry Gold)

Coal is now only viable due to public subsidies and weak or non-existent environmental protection laws. This allows coal plants and mines to leak toxic pollutants into our air, water and land. By ending these special deals and getting off coal we can halve NSW’s emissions.  

Renewable energy offers an opportunity to protect and restore our damaged ecosystems, waterways, cut power bills and ensure a safe climate. But only if we make it so.  

We need to demand improvements to our nature protection laws and policies and programs to ensure that renewable projects protect and enhance biodiversity. 

Then, we can build a new energy system that benefits people and the planet.