The government is seeking to grow its coal exports in overseas markets as it looks to buttress the economic fallout from a deteriorating relationship with China. Loading Australian Conservation Foundation climate change campaigner Christian Slattery said Australia was "trashing its international reputation because of its addiction to polluting coal''. “As major importers of Australian coal move to transition to cleaner forms of energy, the Morrison government is doing the coal industry’s bidding, trying to secure new markets," Mr Slattery said. “Burning coal is the number-one cause of climate damage. Unless we stop digging up and burning coal the planet will suffer unmanageable damage from more extreme fires, droughts, storms and coral bleaching that will harm hundreds of millions of people."

The briefing note to Senator Canavan, released in redacted form to the ACF, said that with "a significant expansion of coal-fired power in Bangladesh expected in the near future", there were opportunities for Australia "to establish a new export market for thermal coal". It outlined three new coal-fired power plants expected to open in the low-lying south Asian nation, in addition to one existing plant, noting reports that Bangladesh coal imports "could reach 45 million tonnes by 2025". Natural disasters and erosion already are posing a severe threat to some communities in Bangladesh. It is predicted that sea levels could rise more than a metre by 2100, which would submerge 20 per cent of Bangladesh's land mass and displace more than 30 million people. In a section on "sensitivities", the briefing note says: "none".

Senator Canavan was also briefed on India's potential as a coal export growth market - something the minister made clear would be a focus ahead of his visit - and hydrogen, although details of this were blanked out. Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to Australia called for increased coal exports from Australia in July. Foreign Minister Marise Payne will front the UN climate change summit this week, but will not address delegates - as Australia is among a group of coal-supporting economies singled out as not getting a spot on the list of 63 speakers. Mr Morrison's snub comes despite him being in the United States on an official visit. In an email to the Prime Minister ahead of his official visit to Vietnam last month, bureaucrats advise him to push hard for an expansion of Australia's coal exports to the nation, which represented a "growth market".

Loading "We strongly recommend a focus on coal exports to Vietnam as part of the Prime Minister’s planned visit," the email said. "There is potential for growth in exports to Vietnam to partially mitigate declining exports elsewhere, notably China." The briefing said coal exports from Australia to Vietnam had more than doubled since the 2017-18 financial year, up from 4,286,390 tonnes or approximately $750 million in value. A spokeswoman for the Prime Minister said in a statement that the government "promotes all of Australian energy exports in our trade discussions - coal, gas and renewables".