Essay by Eric Worrall
Australia’s gross coal and gas export climate hypocrisy on trial.
June 22, 2026
Fossil Fuel Exports at Center of UN Human Rights Case Against Australian Government
This is the first case of its kind since the International Court of Justice affirmed that governments have a legal duty to prevent climate harm
CONTACTS
International press: media@hardtruthscase.org.au
Earthjustice: Alexandria Trimble, atrimble@earthjustice.org
CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA —
Ten Australians filed a case with the United Nations Human Rights Committee arguing the Australian government is violating their human rights by failing to limit coal and gas exports — by far Australia’s largest contribution to climate change. The 10 claimants are represented by the Human Rights Law Centre, Environmental Justice Australia, and Earthjustice.
This is the first case filed in an international body against a country for climate harm since the International Court of Justice, the United Nations’ judicial arm, affirmed that all governments have a legal obligation to prevent significant harm to the climate. In May, Australia joined 140 other countries in passing a major United Nations resolution supporting this landmark legal ruling on climate change.
“All governments have a legal duty to act on the climate crisis, as affirmed by the International Court of Justice last year. The Australian government is failing that responsibility by allowing unchecked exports of coal and gas,” said Ramin Pejan, Deputy Managing Attorney of the International Program at Earthjustice. “This case sends a clear message: governments must act to reduce climate pollution from coal and gas and protect their people from harm.”
Each of the claimants has been seriously harmed by extreme weather events, from catastrophic bushfires and heatwaves to sea level rise and flooding. Their claim asks the UN Human Rights Committee to declare that it is unlawful for Australia to continue approving coal and gas projects for export without a plan to keep Australians safe from dangerous climate change.
“Climate change is affecting not only our country, but our ability to pass on knowledge, care for sacred places and keep our culture strong for future generations,” said Rikki Dank, a Gudanji and Wakaya Traditional Owner from the Barkly Tablelands in the Northern Territory. “Australia continues to play a significant role in the climate crisis through the coal and gas it exports, while communities like mine are left to deal with the consequences. I believe there must be accountability for the harms already occurring and for those that will continue if meaningful action is not taken.”
“Australia is one of the largest exporters of coal and gas in the world,” said Hannah White, Senior Lawyer, Environmental Justice Australia. “Climate harm caused by Australia’s coal and gas doesn’t stop at a border, and neither does Australia’s responsibility for it.”
“Everyone deserves to live safely with their families and communities, free from fear of climate disasters,” said Jack McLean, Senior Lawyer, Human Rights Law Centre. “The Australian government must phase out coal and gas and protect people’s rights to life, home, and culture.”
To learn more about this case and the stories of the 10 Australian claimants, please visit hardtruthscase.org.au.
Each of the claimants has been seriously harmed by extreme weather events, from catastrophic bushfires and heatwaves to sea level rise and flooding. (Rebecca Parker)
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
ABOUT EARTHJUSTICE
Earthjustice is the premier nonprofit environmental law organization. We wield the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect people’s health, to preserve magnificent places and wildlife, to advance clean energy, and to combat climate change. We are here because the earth needs a good lawyer.
Source: https://earthjustice.org/press/2026/fossil-fuel-exports-at-center-of-un-human-rights-case-against-australian-government
I think this is hilarious. For once I’m rooting for the greens.
The Aussie government has been practicing coal hypocrisy for a long time, penalising the use of coal in Australia through regulations like the Carbon Safeguard Mechanism, while exporting vast amounts of coal and gas to Asia. Pretending to practice green virtue at home, while ignoring that other nations are burning the vast quantities of fossil fuel which Australia exports.
The Aussie government also expressed enthusiastic support for recent UN climate rulings, including the ruling which appears to be the basis of this new international court case.
Australia backs landmark UN climate change ruling as others try to block it
By foreign affairs reporter Stephen Dziedzic
Topic:Climate Change
Thu 21 MayIn short:
A landmark United Nations resolution on climate change has received Australia’s support to pass.
Some 140 countries endorsed the legal ruling made by the International Court of Justice last year.
Several countries, including the US, Russia and Saudi Arabia, voted against the resolution.
Australia has joined 140 other countries in passing a major United Nations resolution backing a landmark legal ruling on climate change, despite efforts by the United States, Russia and Saudi Arabia to sink it.
The UN General Assembly voted overnight to endorse last year’s International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling, which found countries can he held legally responsible for their greenhouse gas emissions.
While 28 countries, including India and Türkiye, abstained, only eight countries voted against it: Belarus, Iran, Israel, Liberia, Russia, Saudi Arabia, the United States, and Yemen.
The resolution was driven by Vanuatu, which has spearheaded the international push behind the ICJ ruling.
…
Read more: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-05-21/australia-backs-united-nations-climate-change-ruling/106705694
Now Earth Justice have called the Aussie Government out on their absurdity, by turning the very UN resolutions Australia backed against the Australian government.
I was really hoping greens would attempt this, because either way, the greens lose.
If the case fails, the UN will lose all remaining credibility on green issues, because there is no doubt Australia is guilty as sin, in the sense that Australia is a major fossil fuel exporter.
If the claimants win, the radical left wing green Australian government will be forced to choose between disavowing a UN resolution they themselves noisily backed, in my opinion to embarrass President Trump, or shutting down two of our major exports, which would trigger a savage national economic contraction, including mass layoffs of government workers.
It is unimaginable that the government would surrender a major source of national income, so their only option will be to walk back the facade of caring about climate change, and criticise the UN for judicial activism – activism the current Aussie government previously backed.
What a delightful day. The UN will lose. Australia’s green leaning government will look stupid. And the coal and gas will keep flowing. All because a bunch of greens decided to launch a wrecking ball court case, and either didn’t care or were too stupid to foresee the consequences.
