For years, Australia’s climate debate has been built on a claim that never made scientific sense, namely that we could keep approving new gas and coal mines as long as we didn’t chop down so many trees. The climate science has always been clear that we need to do two things at once: stop putting more carbon into the atmosphere by burning less coal, oil and gas, AND keep as much carbon locked up in trees and soils as we can by avoiding the destruction of old growth forests. The AND does all the work.NSW says any carbon credits generated from the Great Koala National Park will not be sold to coal and gas projects. Tim JohnsonSubscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? Fetching latest articles