Hunter Valley green groups say the coal industry's decision to...

Hunter Valley green groups say the coal industry's decision to spend $400 million on low emission technologies in New South Wales will not address climate change.

The industry plans to raise the money through a fund which will see the state's coal producers donate 20 cents per tonne of coal produced to help develop clean technologies.

The president of the Hunter Environment Lobby group, Jan Davis, says the focus should instead be on renewable technology.

''I'm afraid clean coal is a dirty lie, there's no such thing as clean coal, you burn coal and you get carbon, I'm afraid it's a last ditch grab for continuing profits for the coal industry and it won't help them in the long run," she said.