F&B new logo CMYK Logo Portrait2 May 2012 – Wellington

Forest & Bird media release for immediate use

Court decision ignores serious threats of climate change

Forest & Bird is disappointed at the Environment Court decision to rule out considering the effects of mining coal on climate change.

The Environment Court yesterday announced it would not consider climate change caused by burning coal overseas that is mined in New Zealand, including the open-cast coal mine Bathurst Resources plans for the West Coast’s Denniston Plateau.

“Climate change is the single biggest threat to biodiversity in New Zealand and the world. It knows no boundaries. The Resource Management Act is about long-term sustainability of our natural environment. How can we seriously make sustainable decisions about our environment if we are ruled out from considering the effects of climate change,” says Forest & Bird Top of the South field officer Debs Martin.

“Mining the coal from the Denniston Plateau will contribute to global warming – an issue that we can no longer afford to ignore.”

Forest & Bird is reviewing the court’s decision on climate change and considering whether or not it will seek an appeal.

Forest & Bird’s separate appeal to the Environment Court about the planned Denniston coal mine is still waiting to be heard

Forest & Bird is working to protect the Denniston Plateau’s endangered native plants and animals, including great spotted kiwi, in a 5900-hectare reserve.

In 2010, after a public protest in Auckland of 50000 people, the government executed a remarkable backdown and promised to publicly notify significant applications to mine on public land. The access to the Denniston Plateau will not be publicly notified.

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