Pacific nations under climate threat urge Australia to abandon coal within 12 years

Frustrated leaders appeal to 'all OECD countries' to phase out use as Australia signals support for new plants

Pacific countries vulnerable to climate change have urged Australia to abandon coal power generation within 12 years, and to prohibit new coal plants or expansion of existing plants.

The call from 15 small Pacific island states came one day after the Australian government called for expressions of interest in new power generation projects, indicating it would be prepared to use taxpayer money to underwrite new coal plants.