Academics Urge Albanese to Phase Out Fossil Fuels
More than 500 Australian-based academics have written to the prime minister calling for a binding timetable to end coal, gas and oil use.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Environmental
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A letter signed by 503 academics from universities and research institutes across every state and territory was issued on Tuesday 2 November 2026 to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. The five-page letter asks for a binding timetable to phase out coal, gas and oil.
Why it matters
The letter argues Australia cannot credibly lead on climate action abroad while it expands coal and gas at home. It cites a United Nations finding that more than 1.5C of global warming has become unavoidable and research placing Australia among OECD nations with the highest per-capita greenhouse gas emissions.
The letter's 503 signatories span universities and research institutes in every state and territory, and it cites a UN finding that 1.5C of warming is now unavoidable. It remains unclear what, if any, formal response the government will give before the summit.
The players
Anthony Albanese
Anthony Albanese is the Prime Minister of Australia, leading the federal government that is weighing the letter's demands and the Hunter Valley mine extensions.
Chris Bowen
Chris Bowen is Australia's Climate Change Minister, who will serve as president of negotiations at the COP31 summit.
The details
The open letter was addressed to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and asks for a binding timetable to phase out coal, gas and oil. The federal government is separately weighing the future of the Hunter Valley Operations north and south mine extensions, which were approved by the NSW Independent Planning Commission and still require federal environmental approval.
Timeline
Tuesday 2 November 2026: academics issue the open letter to Prime Minister Albanese.
Within about a week: Albanese is expected to attend the COP31 climate summit in Antalya, Turkey.
Big Picture
The call for a phase-out sits against the pending federal environmental approval required for the Hunter Valley Operations extensions, which were already cleared at state level. The academics' demand therefore tests whether federal decisions on new coal extensions will follow the climate commitments Australia takes to international talks.
A binding phase-out timetable would affect coal, gas and oil industries and the communities that depend on them, including workers at mines such as Hunter Valley Operations. Any decision on the mine extensions would directly shape local employment and energy supply in those regions.
The takeaway
The letter shows academic pressure on Australia's climate record is intensifying just before international talks. Readers should watch whether the federal government responds with a timetable or approves the Hunter Valley extensions first.
What happens next
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is expected to attend the COP31 climate summit in Antalya, Turkey, within about a week of the letter's release.
Further reading
For more on the policy debate, see Environmental coverage of Australia's climate commitments.
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Should Australia stop approving new coal and gas projects?
