Environmental Defenders Office (EDO) welcomes the opportunity to comment on the Call for Evidence to inform the development of the first NSW-specific set of decarbonisation pathways.

Developing robust, binding decarbonisation pathways is important for guiding all sectors towards effective actions to meet NSW’s legislated emissions reduction targets by 2030, 2035 and net zero by 2050.

One of the most significant barriers to achieving these targets, however, is the significant and continuing emissions from the resources sector, and the legal frameworks and policy settings that enable this to continue. To realistically achieve these targets, in accordance with the purpose and guiding principles of the Climate Change (Net Zero Future) Act 2023 (Net Zero Act) and Australia’s international obligations, EDO recommends that sector-specific decarbonisation pathways for the resources sector provide for the managed decline of the fossil fuel industry, as a matter of priority. This includes no expansions or extensions of coal mines or gas projects in NSW. Alternatively, robust decarbonisation pathways providing for the managed decline of the industry, accounting for direct and indirect emissions, provides a significant opportunity for effective and substantial emissions reduction.