The WA EPA has sought more details from a Mitsui subsidiary on abatement plans for a project that will annually emit up to 300,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas.
Industry has blasted the prospect of the WA EPA recommending carbon offsetting, but the environmental consulting sector has come out firmly in favour of the concept.
A Western Australian EPA recommendation to amend a carbon condition attached to Chevron's Gorgon LNG project would result in the company having to buy millions of offsets.
In another sign that independent environmental decision-makers favour tougher climate change conditions than their state governments, a NSW commission has imposed an export restriction on a coal project.
The Western Australian government today unveiled a new policy on greenhouse gas conditions for major projects that is weaker than EPA proposals ditched earlier this year.
Making coal mining companies responsible for carbon emissions from combustion of their coal in other countries 'may not be reasonable', according to the NSW government.
Two mining companies that argue they shouldn't have to offset greenhouse gas emissions could be ordered to only export coal from their mine to Paris Agreement signatories.
Resources Minister Matt Canavan today mocked Labor's calls for 'a just transition' away from fossil fuels and announced a Productivity Commission review to speed approvals of mining projects.