Decision announced at Cop30 climate conference signposts risks for Australia’s reliance on fossil fuel exports, analysts say

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The Australian government has been urged to prepare for a shift away from thermal coal exports and accelerate green industries after one of its main international customers signed up to close all coal-fired power plants by 2040.

South Korea, Australia’s third-biggest market for coal burned to generate electricity, announced at the Cop30 climate conference in Brazil that it was joining the “powering past coal alliance”, a group of about 60 nations and 120 sub-national governments, businesses and organisations committed to phasing out the fossil fuel.

A years-long standoff over who should host the 2026 climate summit leaves Brazilian hosts, and other states, frustrated

• Cop30: click here for full Guardian coverage of the climate talks in Brazil

Delegates turning up in the Amazonian city of Belém for the Cop30 climate conference were greeted by what some interpreted as a less than subtle dig by the Brazilian hosts.

The pavilions for Australia and Turkey – the countries that for more than three years have been competing to host the next Cop summit in November 2026 – had been placed side by side in the convention centre.