Australia’s coalmine emissions are increasing. Is this how a major policy to cut climate pollution is meant to work?

<p>The Albanese government overhauled policy and promised significant pollution cuts – but carbon offsets are still being used as an excuse</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/mar/10/sign-up-for-the-clear-air-australia-environment-newsletter-with-adam-morton?CMP=cvau_sfl">Sign up for climate and environment editor Adam Morton’s free Clear Air newsletter here</a></p></li></ul><p>Is this how a national scheme to cut climate pollution is supposed to work?</p><p>Australian government data <a href="https://cer.gov.au/markets/reports-and-data/safeguard-data">released this week</a> shows emissions from Australian coalmines increased last financial year. About 80% of the coalmines pumped more into the atmosphere than their government-imposed limit.</p><p><strong><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/mar/10/sign-up-for-the-clear-air-australia-environment-newsletter-with-adam-morton?CMP=copyembed">Sign up to get climate and environment editor Adam Morton’s Clear Air column as a free newsletter</a></strong></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/apr/19/australia-emissions-increasing-coalmines-climate-policy-analysis">Continue reading...</a>