Tanya Plibersek approves three coalmine expansions in move criticised as ‘the opposite of climate action’ | Tanya Plibersek

The environment minister, Tanya Plibersek, approved three coalmine expansions on Tuesday in a step described by conservationists as reckless and “the opposite of climate action”.

The Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) said the three projects, all in New South Wales, would generate more than 1.3bn tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions in their lifetime.

Plibersek approved Whitehaven Coal’s plan to extend underground mining for 13 more years until 2034 at its Narrabri mine; Mach Energy’s mine at Mount Pleasant was extended until 2048; and Yancoal’s Ravensworth mine was extended to 2032.

At least two of the mines, Narrabri and Mount Pleasant, will target thermal coal for export and burning in power stations.

Defending the approvals, Plibersek said the government had to make decisions “in accordance with the facts and the national environment law”.

“That’s what happens on every project, and that’s what’s happened here.”

She said the mines were “not new projects” and the emissions from them would be considered under the government’s safeguard mechanism designed to cap and reduce emissions from major polluting sites.

The decision to approve the projects angered climate and environment groups.

“This decision is the opposite of climate action,” Gavan McFadzean, the climate program manager at ACF, said.

“It is grossly irresponsible to be approving coalmines when global scientists and the International Energy Agency have repeated calls for no new coal and gas projects if we have any chance of having a safe climate,” he said.

“The Albanese government came to office promising to be champions for climate action and it continues to disappoint.”

He said the approvals were “not a good look” for the government that was due to host a global “nature positive summit” next month.

Rod Campbell, the research director at the progressive Australia Institute, said the “approvals are inconsistent with Australia’s climate goals and reinforces our country’s reputation as one of the world’s major fossil fuel exporters”.

Carmel Flint, of the Lock the Gate Alliance, said the government “has revealed its reckless disregard for the extinction of Australian wildlife and the effects of catastrophic climate change on all Australians”.

“We are shocked that a government that came to power promising to halt extinction and act on climate change has sunk so low,” she said.

The Greens leader, Adam Bandt, said the decision to approve the projects was “a betrayal of everyone who voted for climate action” and said Labor had now approved 26 new coal and gas projects since being elected.

The Greens environment spokesperson, Sarah Hanson-Young, claimed the government was “deliberately and proactively approving climate wrecking coal mines” under national environment laws “they know are broken”.

“It’s wrong and irresponsible,” she said.