Australian coalmines are one of riskiest investments in the world – report

Oxford University research also finds Australian, Chinese and US coal-fired power stations are the most vulnerable to environmental dangers

Australian thermal coalmines are some of the riskiest in the world for investors because of their exposure to environmental dangers, according to a report from Oxford University.

The report - which was supported by Norges Bank Investment Management, managers of Norway's government pension fund, the world's largest sovereign wealth fund - also found that Australian, Chinese and US coal-fired power stations were the most vulnerable to environmental risks.