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Special guest: Michael Bones, Senior Manager of Advocacy at the Investor Group on Climate Change

A landmark High Court decision could change how Australian authorities assess proposed fossil-fuel projects. Dan Ilic and Lewis Hobba speak with Michael Bones about the Mount Pleasant coal mine case, why Scope 3 emissions matter, and what the ruling does—and doesn’t—mean for future mine approvals.

• Dan shares his move into the CEO role at GetUp.
• Michael explains the High Court’s ruling on the proposed Mount Pleasant mine expansion and emissions from exported coal.
• The group discusses why Scope 3 emissions made up about 98% of the project’s emissions, and why the court said authorities must consider their local climate impacts.
• Michael clarifies that the ruling does not automatically block the mine: planning authorities must consider the impacts, but can still decide to approve a project.
• The conversation explores what the decision could mean for future mine approvals, climate-related legal challenges, and communities facing fires, floods, heat and other climate risks.
• They also discuss climate damage to the economy, the social cost of carbon, clean-energy jobs and the costs of rebuilding after disasters.
• Dan and Lewis wrap up with details about the Irrational Fear live show at the Cheerful Earful Podcast Festival in Melbourne.

• 00:04 Dan’s new role and nonprofit life
• 01:51 The live show and today’s guest
• 03:00 Michael Bones joins to unpack Scope 3 emissions
• 04:09 The Mount Pleasant case and what the High Court decided
• 06:22 Why Scope 3 emissions account for most of the project’s footprint
• 07:39 Attribution science and connecting emissions to local impacts
• 09:09 The scale of the proposed coal expansion
• 09:37 What the ruling could mean for other mine approvals
• 12:14 Climate disasters, housing and economic costs
• 14:13 What planning authorities are required to consider
• 16:09 Potential implications for mining projects
• 18:01 The High Court decision and its 3–2 split
• 20:21 Closing thoughts and live-show details

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