Organizations ask for Australia to be held accountable for fossil fuels
Members of INCLO from seven countries, including Conectas, support a complaint filed before the UN by Australians affected by the climate crisis
View of evening dramatic sky over long stroke balanced beam petroleum pump jack. Oil field with oil pumping unit or oil pump rocker-machine during sunset. Concept of petroleum industry, oil extraction
Members of the International Network of Civil Liberties Organizations (INCLO) from seven countries — including Conectas Direitos Humanos — support a complaint filed with the UN Human Rights Committee by ten Australians affected by wildfires, floods, and heatwaves. The group challenges Australia’s continued approval and financing of new coal and gas projects for export.
Known as the Hard Truths case, the suit questions Australia’s responsibility for the impacts associated with its coal and gas exports. The country is the world’s second-largest coal exporter and third-largest gas exporter, with approximately 80% of these fuels destined for the international market.
The complainants are calling on the Australian government to halt the approval of new coal and gas export projects until it establishes an emissions reduction plan consistent with the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C.
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For the signatory organizations, there is a contradiction between the international commitments undertaken by Australia — including support for the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion on climate change and the Belém Declaration, adopted at COP30 — and the continuation of subsidies and new fossil fuel projects.
The organizations argue that this case could set a precedent for major emitters to assume responsibility for the impacts of the climate crisis on human rights.
