Australian Minister for the Environment Greg Hunt has signed the approval of the massive Carmichael coal mine in Queensland, expected to mine and export 60 million tonnes of coal every year. Conservationists described the decision "grossly irresponsible" for failing to consider environmental concerns.

The approval for the coal mine to operate was signed by Environment Minister Hunt on Wednesday. Hunt highlighted that the Carmichael mine by India's Adani Mining is obliged to follow "36 of the strictest conditions in Australian history."

However, prior to the decision, Hunt was found to fail to consider advice about the threats of the project to local animal species that led the court to halt the operation of the mine in August. Conservationists are due to challenge the approval in federal court concerning two vulnerable species – the yakka skink and the ornamental snake - which would be threatened.

The Carmichael project, which will export the bulk of its output mostly to India, covers five times the area of Sydney Harbour. The project was first proposed in 2010, including a railway project that was already approved in 2014.

Moreover, Hunt noted in a statement on Thursday that he has "the power to suspend or revoke the approval and strict penalties apply if there is a breach of the strict conditions." He added that the conditions for the Carmichael project considered the issues raised by the community and will ensure Adani Mining “must meet the highest environmental standards” for its mining operation to proceed.

Adani will be required to protect and improve 31,000 hectares of wildlife habitat and provide A$1 million to fund research programmes focused on improving conservation of threatened species in the area for the next 10 years.

Despite the conditions for the mine requiring wildlife protection, the Australian Conservation Foundation, or ACF, is still working against the approval of the project. "To approve a massive coal mine that would make species extinct, deplete 297 billion litres of precious groundwater and produce 128.4 million tonnes of CO2 a year is grossly irresponsible," said ACF President Geoff Cousins, in a statement.

There would be more climate pollution caused by burning coals from the mine compared to the entire annual emissions of New Zealand, the ACF said. "At a time when the world is desperately seeking cleaner energy options this huge new coal mine will make the effort to combat climate change all the more difficult," Cousins added.

However, Adani has reportedly addressed the environmental concerns, “reflected in rigorous and painstaking conditions."

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