The charity said the Australian government was reviewing its climate and energy policies so it had the opportunity to implement a plan of action that included no new coal mines in Australia, including Adani’s proposal.  

“Burning coal is a public health disaster,” Oxfam said.

“Families living close to dirty coal mines and coal-fired power plants are literally being choked. Worldwide, the air pollution from burning coal is responsible for hundreds of thousands of premature deaths and millions of asthma cases.”

Oxfam said the damage caused by coal and climate change had become a matter of survival for families living in the world’s poorest communities. 

“Burning coal remains the single biggest contributor to climate pollution,” it said.

“More intense droughts, floods and tropical cyclones are destroying people’s homes and leaving many families facing food and water shortages. And the world’s poorest people are being hit hardest. 

“In East Africa, almost 11 million people are dangerously hungry due to a catastrophic drought that has been compounded by climate change.”