'A death sentence for our islands' - Pacific leaders respond to Australia approving new coal mines

The decision to expand fossil fuels sparked outrage globally. The announcement came shortly after hearings on the legal obligations of nation-states to tackle the climate crisis at the International Court of Justice this week.

Just two weeks before approving the new coal projects, Australia claimed at the Hague that “Australia is committed to working with the Pacific to strengthen the global responses to climate change.”

However, the 3 coal projects are set to add more than 800 million tonnes of carbon emissions to the atmosphere, more than 7.5 times the carbon pollution that all Pacific Island nations produce in one year.

Reverend James Bhagwan, General Secretary of the Pacific Conference of Churches and Co-Chair of the Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative, said: “The nation intends to “co-host” COP31 - the 2026 UN Climate Talks - but ongoing expansion of coal and gas risks jeopardising relationships in the region and Australia’s legitimacy as a climate leader. Australia's fossil fuel exports are second only to Russia. Australia has the largest pipeline of coal export projects in the world, making up 61% of proposed coal export projects globally – as of 2023, 69 coal projects and 49 new oil and gas projects are under consideration for development, which could result in nearly 5 GtCO2eq of emissions.”

Joseph Sikulu, 350.org Pacific Managing Director, said: “Australia’s commitment to climate destruction makes a mockery of the “family” they claim to call the Pacific. Approving three massive coal mines shifts Australia further away from genuine climate action , and again it is up to us in the Pacific to spotlight this hypocrisy. These three projects are set to emit 7.5 times more carbon than all the Pacific island nations produce in a year. Australia must get off this dangerous trajectory if they are to be true hosts of COP31. They can’t cover up the wound they are creating with adaptation finance or diplomatic pandering, no matter how hard they try.”

Rufino Varea, Regional Director, Pacific Islands Climate Action Network (PICAN), said: "By approving three massive coal mines that will unleash 880 million tonnes of carbon pollution—more than double the combined annual emissions of all 14 Pacific Island nations—Australia has betrayed the Pacific and signed a death sentence for our islands. While Pacific leaders demand climate action and an end to new fossil fuels, the Albanese government sides with coal billionaires, fueling the crisis that threatens our survival. Each year, these mines will emit more than 2,200 times Tuvalu’s annual emissions, accelerating rising seas and devastating storms. Australia cannot claim to stand with the Pacific while digging our graves. No new coal means no excuses—if Australia refuses to lead, it does not deserve to co-host COP31.”

Brianna Fruean, Samoan climate justice activist said: “While we fight to keep the flame of hope alive of a future above water, Australia extinguishes this hope with every coal mine it approves. This is not development—it is destruction. Actions speak louder than empty promises. Australia’s ongoing approval of coal projects shows it prioritises corporate profits over their neighbours lives and their own citizens future.”

The coal mine approvals come after Tuvalu’s Prime Minister, Hon. Feleti Teo said: “To put it plainly - it is a death sentence for us if larger nations continue to open new fossil fuel projects. We have a moral responsibility to uphold the commitments we made under the Paris Agreement, and work toward limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees. But if we are to achieve this, we must work collectively. We cannot achieve this if our wealthier partners do not align their actions with their stated commitments. The continued expansion of fossil fuels only fans the flames of the climate crisis.”

This ongoing expansion and minimal decline underscores a reluctance to phase down coal at a pace required for the 1.5°C climate scenario. 

The approval of new coal projects starkly contrasts Australia’s regional neighbours, where most Pacific Island nations form the bloc of 14 countries across 4 continents spearheading the push to negotiate a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty. The proposal would create a legally binding international framework to end the expansion of new coal, oil and gas projects while also managing and financing a just transition away from fossil fuel production.