WHAT HAPPENED
Australia is coming under renewed scrutiny over the emissions generated by its fossil fuel exports as it helps lead COP31 negotiations in Türkiye. ABC reporting published on 9 November said the Albanese government was seeking to present Australia as a climate leader even as its coal and gas exports remained a focal point for critics. ABC’s AM program said latest government data showed emissions from Australia’s fossil fuel exports, when burned overseas, had almost doubled over two decades, from 680 million tonnes in 2005 to 1.2 billion tonnes last financial year. ABC also reported that climate advocates and Pacific representatives have questioned whether Australia can credibly champion climate action while approving new fossil fuel projects. ([abc.net.au](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-11-09/global-emissions-footprint-overshadows-australias-image/107329288))

WHY IT MATTERS
The row goes to the heart of Australia’s pitch at COP31, where the summit is focused on practical outcomes including electrification, climate finance and adaptation. ABC reported on 12 November that the summit is not setting new emissions targets, but that the pace of transition away from coal, gas and oil remains a major sticking point. The issue is politically sensitive because Australia is trying to strengthen ties with Pacific nations vulnerable to climate impacts while facing criticism that continued fossil fuel expansion weakens its international message. ([abc.net.au](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-11-12/cop31-australia-criticised-over-fossil-fuel-expansion/107375792))

WHO SHOULD CARE
Pacific Island governments, climate negotiators, Australian policymakers and the domestic resources sector all have a stake in how this debate plays out. ABC’s reporting indicates the Albanese government wants to use COP31 to reinforce regional relationships and argue for practical climate measures, while critics say export emissions should be treated as part of Australia’s climate responsibility. That tension will matter to investors, diplomats and campaigners watching whether Australia’s climate diplomacy aligns with its energy policy. ([abc.net.au](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-11-09/global-emissions-footprint-overshadows-australias-image/107329288))

WHAT AIM IS WATCHING
AIM will be watching whether negotiators at COP31 make any substantive references to fossil fuel export emissions, whether Australia’s messaging shifts in response to criticism, and whether the government signals any change to approvals for new coal and gas projects. We will also watch whether the debate broadens into legal, financial or diplomatic pressure on Scope 3 emissions, which ABC reporting says are not included in domestic reporting but are increasingly part of public scrutiny. ([abc.net.au](https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/am/cop-review/107362360))