The Hunter Joint Organisation, a regional body that includes local councils from the Hunter Valley region, is peddling a misleading narrative about the global coal industry that could misguide local policies and decisions, potentially harming communities that rely on coal and its associated industries. In a recent post, the Hunter Joint Organisation claimed that coal demand is in significant decline, yet global coal consumption has reached record-breaking levels. In fact, 2023 marked the highest worldwide demand for coal, with a staggering 8.5 billion tonnes consumed globally—a trend that will continue into 2024. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), global coal...