Key facts
- Australia and Turkey, hosts of the upcoming UN climate conference Cop31, are criticized for expanding fossil fuel projects.
- Activists accuse the Cop31 hosts of a 'vacuum of action' on transitioning away from fossil fuels.
- A New South Wales regulator approved an expansion for the Hunter Valley Operations thermal coalmine, potentially leading to 809 million tonnes of CO2 emissions.
- Since the 2015 Paris agreement, coal exports from Australia to Turkey have resulted in over 75 million tonnes of CO2 emissions, according to 350.org.
- Australia's shipments of coal and LNG are expected to be worth over A$140 billion this year.
- Turkey plans to expand its coal and gas power capacity by about 30% by 2035.
Australia and Turkey, set to co-host the upcoming United Nations climate conference Cop31, are facing significant criticism from environmental activists and international observers for their continued commitment to fossil fuel expansion.
Activists, including the campaign group 350.org, accuse the two nations of a "vacuum of action" regarding a transition away from coal, oil, and gas, despite their roles as hosts of the crucial climate talks. This criticism is amplified by the fact that both countries are major players in the global coal supply chain. Specifically, a report by 350.org highlighted that coal exports from Australia to Turkey have been responsible for over 75 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions since the signing of the Paris Agreement in 2015. The report also noted that both countries are expanding their trade in liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Preparations for Cop31, scheduled to take place in Antalya, Turkey, are intensifying. A preparatory meeting in Fiji and Tuvalu was attended by leaders from a few nations, including Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. However, expectations for this meeting were tempered by the recent approval of the largest coalmine expansion in Australia's New South Wales history by a state regulator. The joint owners of the Hunter Valley Operations thermal coalmine estimate that a 19-year life extension could result in 809 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions if federal approval is granted.
In public statements leading up to the summit, the Cop31 presidency, which includes both the Turkish and Australian governments, has largely omitted discussions on fossil fuels, the primary driver of the climate crisis. Three letters outlining the summit's mission and expectations did not mention fossil fuels. Similarly, Prime Minister Albanese did not address fossil fuels in a recent keynote speech at Climate Week in New York.
Andreas Sieber, head of political strategy at 350.org, urged the host nations to follow Brazil's example from Cop30 by developing a roadmap for accelerating the transition away from fossil fuels and to announce coal phase-out dates. He stated, "Amidst the biggest energy crisis in history, it is extraordinary that the Cop31 presidency continues to ignore the central issue of fossil fuels. Rather than leading the transition away, both countries are still expanding fossil fuels at extreme rates."
Australia, while accelerating its domestic clean energy expansion, remains a leading exporter of coal and LNG, with shipments projected to exceed A$140 billion this year. Turkey, identified as Europe's largest coal-power generator, has indicated plans to increase its coal and gas power capacity by approximately 30% by 2035.
Australian Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen acknowledged Australia's role as a fossil fuel exporter but emphasized that acting on climate change aligns with the nation's economic and strategic interests. He suggested that Australia could influence global emissions by becoming a renewable energy exporter and remaining a reliable trading partner for nations undergoing their own energy transitions.
The unique co-hosting arrangement for Cop31 places ultimate responsibility on Turkey, including managing a green trade fair, while Australia's Chris Bowen holds the title of "president of negotiations." This arrangement follows a period of negotiation after a previous standoff. The Cop30 summit in Brazil concluded with a voluntary agreement to begin discussions on a fossil fuel phase-out roadmap, a compromise reached after opposition from oil-producing countries. Frustration over this impasse led 57 nations to convene a separate conference on fossil fuel transition in Colombia, where both Turkey and Australia were represented by senior officials.
Vanuatu's Climate Change Minister Ralph Regenvanu expressed that extending the life of a major coalmine would send the wrong signal from Australia, especially as it leads Cop31 negotiations. Bill Hare, CEO of Climate Analytics, noted that both Australia's Labor government and Turkey under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan appear to be prioritizing fossil fuel developments, with Australia approving 37 fossil fuel export projects since 2022 and Turkey focusing on coal and gas expansion.