Australian climate defenders blocked coal export shipments in several ports.

Australian state governments complain about the momentary inconvenience of the protests, and threaten to use repressive anti-protest laws. Bravo to the courageous protesters!

There is no need for Australia to suddenly end all coal export. What it needs to do is cut down coal mining faster — and pressure the rest of the world hard to cut down faster. These protesters are calling attention to that.

Secondarily, Australia should stop imploring China to buy Australian coal rather than mine coal in China. Coal combustion in China will hurt the world (and especially China) no matter which country it gets the coal from, but begging China to buy it strengthens China's influence and weakens resistance to it.