Australia cannot "credibly lead on climate abroad" or protect regional security if it continues to approve new and expanded coal and gas projects, an open letter has warned.
More than 500 Australian-based academics issued the message to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Tuesday, days before Australia takes a leading role at the COP31 climate talks in Antalya, Turkey.
The signatories, from universities and research institutes in every state and territory, include Climate Change Authority board member Lesley Hughes, Climate Analytics founder Bill Hare, and veteran climate scientist David Karoly.
The open letter comes less than a week before Mr Albanese is expected to attend the summit, where Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen will serve as president of negotiations.
It also comes as the federal government considers the future of the Hunter Valley Operations north and south mine extensions, which were approved by the NSW Independent Planning Commission but require federal environmental approval.
The five-page letter cites the United Nations' recent finding that more than 1.5C of global warming had become unavoidable, and research that showed Australia ranked among the OECD nations with the highest greenhouse gas emissions per capita.
The 503 signatories called for a binding timetable to phase out coal, gas and oil, a ban on new and expanded fossil fuel projects including those in the Hunter Valley and Beetaloo, and international agreement on deadlines to transition away from fossil fuels.
"We argue that Australia cannot credibly lead on climate abroad nor ensure national nor regional security while it expands coal and gas at home," the letter said.
"We ask you to read this letter as the considered judgement of the collective expertise and conscience of your nation's academy, whose work is to understand these systems… and to act on them."
Academics who signed the open letter represent disciplines such as sustainability, law, economics and public health.
Professor Hughes, lead author of two Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change assessments, said Australia could not tackle climate change while adding to the problem.
"No government can credibly claim to be serious about the climate catastrophe while actively contributing to the cause," Prof Hughes said.
"Australia is a leading exporter of climate pollution and must urgently transition out of the toxic fossil fuel industry."
Preventing further fossil fuel projects would give communities greater confidence in their future, University of Notre Dame Indigenous knowledge researcher Anne Poelina said.
"I signed the letter to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese because I want him to listen to frontline communities who are fighting against damaging fossil fuel projects, including a proposal for fracking in the Kimberley," Professor Poelina said.
"We want young people to have a future and a climate chance."
Australian Associated Press
