If a company exceeds this pollution baseline, it is required to purchase carbon credits to offset the increase, or pay a penalty. However, the government’s policy allows companies to apply to increase their emissions baselines under certain conditions, thus allowing them to increase their overall total emissions. The mine’s total emissions were more than double its reported emissions for the previous year. In 2016/17, Centennial reported emissions of 1,560,761 tonnes of carbon at Mandalong, exceeding their reported baseline of 1,508,644 by 3.8%. In 2017/18 the mine was granted another baseline increase and reported total emissions of 1,866,089 tonnes.

Source: The Guardian October 06, 2019 03:13 UTC