During its periodic review of Australia, the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights considered violations of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in the context of actions and omissions resulting in climate change. The Committee expressed its concern "about the continued increase of CO2 emissions in the State party, at risk of worsening in the coming years, despite the State party’s commitments as a developed country under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol, as well as its Nationally Determined Contribution under the Paris Agreement."

The Committee also expressed concern "that environmental protection has decreased in recent years as shown by the repeal of the Emissions Trading Scheme in 2013, and the State party’s ongoing support to new coal mines and coal-fired power stations."

The Committee recommended that Australia "revise its climate change and energy policies" and "take immediate measures aimed at reversing the current trend of increasing absolute emissions of greenhouse gases, and pursue alternative and renewable energy production."

The Committee also encouraged Australia "to review its position in support of coal mines and coal export" and recommended "that the State party address the impact of climate change on indigenous peoples more effectively while fully engaging indigenous peoples in related policy and programme design and implementation."

The full Concluding Observations are available HERE.

The Global Initiative's Parallel Report focusing on climate change is available HERE.