NSW will insist big polluters hand over transparent and reliable information on the environmental impact of new projects as the state struggles towards meeting its emissions targets.
The NSW Environment Protection Authority said on Monday that draft planning system changes would for the first time put certain requirements on those behind high-emitting sites such as coal mines and landfill operations.
Climate campaigners have welcomed the move, hoping it will limit coal mine expansion.
The EPA's requirements include the need for producers to provide "robust and consistent information" about potential greenhouse gas emissions and for them to align with the state's net-zero targets.
The changes, once approved, would be at the forefront of making sure NSW planning laws helped achieve the legislated emissions goals, the regulator said.
The targets include a 50 per cent cut to 2005 emissions levels by 2030, a 70 per cent cut by 2035 and net-zero emissions by 2050.
Anti-coal mining campaigners Lock the Gate, who've previously pointed out official projections show the state is likely to fall short of those goals, say the EPA's guidelines are only effective if they stop new expansions.
“The guidelines released (on Monday) strengthen the climate change assessments and transparency around major projects, which is a positive step forward,” spokeswoman Georgina Woods said in a statement.
“(But) there are 19 new coal expansions planned in NSW. They will produce life-cycle emissions that are 17 times the state’s total annual emissions including millions of tonnes of direct greenhouse pollution here in NSW.”
EPA chief executive Tony Chappel said stricter planning controls gave polluters "transparency and certainty" as the state moved towards net zero.
"It is an essential part of our work to guarantee industry makes a meaningful contribution to put us back on track and help us achieve our 2050 net-zero targets," he said in a statement.
“It also fulfils calls for clearer support on what’s expected and will set a new standard for climate action in future major projects across NSW.”
NSW Minerals Council chief executive Stephen Galilee acknowledged the role his industry had to play in contributing to government emissions reduction goals.
“Robust and detailed environmental assessments are prepared to support mining development applications and we hope the draft documents released by the EPA (on Monday) will provide further guidance to support this process,” he told AAP.
Public consultation runs until the end of June on the draft, which would force polluters to show methods for calculating expected emissions and identify measures to reduce emissions.
