Australia's new government announced on Thursday it plans to prevent the development of a coal mine due to the potential impact on the nearby Great Barrier Reef.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek said she intends to deny approval for the Central Queensland Coal Project to be excavated northwest of the Queensland state town of Rockhampton.
The minority Greens party has been pressing the center-left Labor Party government, which was elected in May, to refuse approvals of coal or gas projects, to help reduce Australia's greenhouse gas emissions.
UNESCO, the UN cultural organization, is considering downgrading the Great Barrier Reef's World Heritage status mainly because rising ocean temperatures are killing coral.
The mine's proponents have 10 business days to respond to the proposed refusal before the minister makes her final decision.
The Greens welcomed the news and urged the minister to reject another 26 planned coal mines.
"Now we need an across-the-board moratorium on all new coal and gas projects," Greens leader Adam Bandt said in a statement.
