Fiji, Oct. 2 -- The Minns government's approval of the state's biggest ever coal mine expansion has created a major headache for Australian Energy Minister Chris Bowen after a key Pacific leader hit out at the controversial decision ahead of next week's UN climate summit in Fiji.

The NSW Independent Planning Commission on Wednesday greenlit a 19-year extension of Yancoal and Glencore's Hunter Valley Operations coal mine in the Hunter Valley, which it said would generate more than 800 million tonnes of greenhouse gases.

The decision came just days ahead of the United Nations' pre-COP climate summit in Fiji, which Australia is co-hosting with the Pacific Islands as part of a broader effort to use emissions reduction and green policies as ...