New South Wales, Australia will ban the construction of new coal mines.

The second largest coal-producing state in Australia, New South Wales, will ban new coal mine applications for fossil fuels. The state government stated in a declaration on Thursday that it will not approve so-called "greenfield coal mines," which are brand new coal mines developed from scratch, in order to reduce emissions and achieve the state's net zero emissions target. The ban will not affect existing coal mines and related expansion projects. The government will continue to "support coal production in existing areas" and ensure that New South Wales "can fulfill its commitments to major trade partners." According to state government data, coal is the largest export commodity in New South Wales, with an annual production value of about $33 billion Australian dollars. The state primarily exports thermal coal. Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, Paul Scully, stated in the declaration, "As demand for thermal coal declines, we are planning for the future employment and energy development of regions reliant on coal." The New South Wales government stated that the coal industry provides approximately 26,000 jobs locally, and the government will establish a Future Jobs and Investment Agency to help industry workers transition to new careers.