<
https://reneweconomy.com.au/group-of-10-calls-out-ongoing-approval-of-coal-and-gas-projects-in-landmark-climate-case/>
"Ten Australians claim the federal government is failing to protect them from
climate extremes in a landmark human rights case lodged with a United Nations
committee.
The claimants, including people living with disabilities, First Nations leaders
and a firefighter, say Australia is in breach of a prominent human rights
treaty by continuing to expand coal and gas exports.
Nyikina Warrwa and Warlungurru woman Anna Poelina said government approval of
coal and gas projects was failing both people and Country.
“In 2023 we had the largest flood ever in the history of Western Australia, and
our community went underwater,” Professor Poelina, chair of the Martuwarra
Fitzroy River Council in Western Australia, said.
“Not being on country, country gets lonely, we lose the ability to transfer
culture,” she told reporters in Canberra.
“We are standing here asking the Australian government to be accountable for
the climate fugitive emissions that we are releasing and burning overseas.”
Australia is chasing ambitious domestic climate and renewables targets but
remains the world’s second-largest exporter of coal and third-largest of gas.
While the
Paris Agreement is focused on in-country emissions reductions and
other countries are still buying Australian coal and gas, an advisory opinion
issued by the world’s highest court in mid-2025 specified fossil fuel
production could constitute an “internationally wrongful act”.
Australia was among the 141 favourable votes endorsing the International Court
of Justice legal opinion at the UN General Assembly in May.
The “hard truths” case before the UN Human Rights Committee argues Australia is
in breach of obligations under the
International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights, which specifies ratifying states must protect the right to
life from foreseeable threats.
La Trobe University senior lecturer at the School of Law, Julia Dehm, said
climate change fits that description.
“What makes this claim significant is that it connects Australia’s specific
conduct, approving and subsidising fossil fuel exports, to measurable harm to
people living here now,” Dr Dehm said.
“The Human Rights Committee is the right body to scrutinise that connection.”"
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
