A collective of Australian citizens has lodged a formal complaint with the United Nations Human Rights Committee, alleging that their government is infringing upon their fundamental human rights by persistently authorising and supporting the export of coal and gas. The group contends that these fossil fuel activities contribute to climate change, which in turn fuels extreme weather events causing significant harm to their lives and communities.
The plaintiffs detail a range of personal experiences with severe weather, including devastating bushfires, extensive floods, prolonged heatwaves, and rising sea levels. Dr Barry Traill, a wildlife ecologist and volunteer firefighter, described how the intensity of recent bushfires profoundly altered his perspective, indicating that established safety protocols were no longer sufficient. He stated that the ongoing approval of increased pollution by fossil fuel companies, amidst escalating disasters, represents a grave dereliction of governmental duty. Another litigant, Brendon Donohue, recounted being confined to his Brisbane home for ten days during 2022 floods, which disabled his apartment block's power supply and rendered essential services inaccessible, highlighting the disproportionate impact on individuals with disabilities.
The claim also features the testimony of Professor Anne Poelina, an Indigenous woman from Western Australia's Kimberley region, who has been displaced by catastrophic flooding of the Fitzroy River. She emphasised the profound cultural and intergenerational knowledge loss that occurs when Indigenous communities are disconnected from their ancestral lands and waterways due to environmental damage. Much of this knowledge, she explained, is passed down through physical presence and interaction with the land, rather than written records.
Environmental Justice Australia, a legal organisation assisting the group, stated that the climate harm caused by Australia's fossil fuel exports extends beyond national borders, as does the country's responsibility for it. Senior lawyer Hannah White confirmed that the group is seeking a declaration from the UN Human Rights Committee that it is unlawful for Australia to continue approving and subsidising coal and gas exports without a comprehensive plan to safeguard its population from dangerous climate change.
This case marks a significant development, being the first legal action brought before an international body or court since a landmark 2023 ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ). That ruling established that countries can be held accountable and sued over climate change, including for historical emissions of planet-warming gases. Although any decision from the UN Human Rights Committee would not be legally binding, Australia, as one of the world's largest exporters of coal and gas, would face considerable international pressure to respond.
The BBC has approached Australia's Environment Minister, Murray Watt, for comment regarding the allegations.