Stories

Tue, 23 Jun 2026

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 Australia's coal and gas exports violate our human rights, group says in new UN case

The group says that it is unlawful for Australia to continue approving fossil fuel exports without protecting its citizens.

* A group of Australians has lodged a human rights complaint with the UN against their government, alleging that continued coal and gas exports violate their right to life.
* The group claims that extreme weather events such as bushfires, floods, heatwaves, and rising sea levels have harmed their lives and livelihoods.
* They attribute these disasters to the government's support for fossil fuel companies and argue that the country is failing in its responsibility to protect its citizens from climate change.
* The complaint is significant because it follows a 2025 ICJ ruling that countries can be sued over climate change, including historic emissions of greenhouse gases.
* Ten Australians have brought the complaint, each with their own personal stories of suffering due to extreme weather events.
* They include Dr. Barry Traill, a wildlife ecologist and volunteer firefighter who has seen firsthand the devastating impact of climate change on Australian landscapes and communities.
* Brendon Donohue, who was trapped in his home for 10 days during floods in Brisbane, and Prof. Anne Poelina, an Indigenous woman displaced from her land due to flooding, are also among those bringing the complaint.
* The group is seeking a ruling from the UN Human Rights Committee that Australia's continued support for coal and gas exports is unlawful without a plan to protect people from climate change.