Ten Australians sue government over climate harms at UN
Ten Australians filed a human rights case at the UN, claiming the government must stop backing fossil fuels.
Ten Australians launched a human rights case at the UN against the Australian government. The claimants include First Nations people, firefighters, and people with disabilities.
The claimants say the government's approval and subsidisation of coal and gas projects violate their human rights, including life, privacy, and home. Melissa Fisher, one claimant, lived in an uninsulated Adelaide public housing unit.
Temperatures there exceeded 35C, leaving her fearful for her safety. Several members of the group are now at COP31, the UN climate conference in Turkey this week.
They are pressing the government on the contradiction between hosting climate negotiations and continuing to back fossil fuel exports.
- 10 Australians
- Claimants
- Hard Truths
- Case name
- Exceeded 35C
- Temperature in Fisher's home
- COP31 in Turkey
- Current venue
Why it mattersThis is the first UN human rights case against a country for climate harm since an International Court of Justice ruling last year, which could set a global precedent.
AustraliaAustralia is co-hosting COP31 negotiations this week, yet faces a formal UN challenge over its climate and fossil fuel policies, putting domestic government strategy under international scrutiny.
