Australia has been one of the slowest nations when it comes to ditching coal, but now it seems they’re getting with the program. Recently, a landmark ruling rejected the construction of a coal mine because of its potential impact on the environment. The ruling represents the first time a new coal mine has been rejected in Australia, the world’s leading coal exporter, because of the potential contribution to global warming. What might have influenced the court’s decision are the extreme weather patterns taking place in Australia over the past few months, which caused major destruction in large parts of the country and which are expected to increase in frequency.