Australia's coal and gas exports violate human rights, group says in new UN case

Five indigenous islanders from the Pacific nation of Tuvalu and an international climate advocacy group filed a formal complaint at the UN Human Rights Committee on Monday. The complaint argues that Australia's annual exports of 350 million tonnes of coal and 80 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas contribute directly to global warming and so violate the rights to life and cultural existence.

Client Earth's chief legal counsel James Thornton said « this is the first case to test fossil-fuel export policy under an international human rights framework. » Tuvalu's Prime Minister Feleti Teo said sea-level rise could « significantly reduce the country's habitable area within the next 30 years. »

Australia's Climate Minister Chris Bowen said in a statement the government « takes its responsibilities to our Pacific neighbours seriously » and pointed to Australia's 2050 net-zero target. The committee's opinion typically takes 18 to 24 months; while non-binding, the eventual finding could pave the way for further national-level cases.