Anglo American chief executive Mark Cutifani is courting Unites States faith-based groups to help fight the global campaign urging investors to abandon investments in fossil fuels.
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Mr Cutifani said the coal industry needed to do more to counter the divestment movement, which he accused of being "short-sighted" and "unfortunately very vocal".
"I think we have a big job to do," he said. "I don't think we are doing enough and we have got to reach out more effectively.
"Anglo American, and other partners in the industry, we're starting a series of dialogues with local communities, in particular the broad faith-based groups, because they've got such an extensive reach across the globe. We are trying to sit with them to explain the industry fundamentals … and the unintended consequences on the world and the poor, and the globe itself, on taking such short-sighted, uninformed views on these things."
The divestment movement was started three years ago by ethical investors but is becoming increasingly sophisticated and has won mainstream support. It is starting to catch on with some Australian investors.
Anglo American is the world's fifth-largest miner and Australia's second-biggest producer of metallurgical coal, with six mines, mainly in Queensland.
The global divestment movement aims to stop coal's progress by forcing a wedge between the industry and debt and equity investors.
But Mr Cutifani said coal industry bodies needed to ensure "we don't let these people back the world into a corner".
At least 70 per cent of the world's energy will come from fossil fuels in 30 years' time, he said.
The local coal divestment movement is backed by 350.org and activist investment group Market Forces. Its true targets are Australia's big four banks, but superannuation funds are the latest to feel the heat.
Earlier this month, the campaign launched a new fossil fuel-free super fund in Australia, Future Super, which has already attracted about $15 million in savings from members switching out of "dirty" funds.
In Australia, the movement was largely confined to the fringes until 2014, which has seen a string of super funds and institutions shun fossil fuel investments.
It has won support from Bendigo and Adelaide Bank, AMP Capital, education industry fund UniSuper, health and community services industry fund HESTA, and a collective of smaller Australian deposit takers including bankmecu, Credit Union Australia, Beyond Bank and Defence Bank.
Meanwhile, Anglo American faces a fresh battle with anti-coal campaigners over its planned extension of its Drayton South open-cut coal mine in New South Wales' Hunter Valley.
