Australian scientists are increasing pressure on the federal government over climate change, with a letter signed by 100 scientists and academics calling on emissions from new coal and gas projects to be considered in the federal approvals process.

“We, as pre-eminent scientists named below, are jointly calling on the Environment Minister to accept our shared climate reality, heed the science and ensure all environmental assessments of new gas and coal projects are responsible and evidence-based,” says the letter in part.

It has been written in support of a legal move by the Environment Council of Central Queensland calling on Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek to reconsider approvals for 19 fossil fuel projects on climate grounds.

“The science is unequivocal. From megafires to ocean heatwaves and acidification, extensive coral bleaching, drought and extreme rainfall and flooding events, we are now seeing and suffering through the scientifically predicted impacts of climate change across the country,” says the letter.

“Every tonne of greenhouse gas emissions and fraction of a degree of warming is a blow to the health of our ecosystems and economy. Any new coal or gas project will dangerously worsen climate change.”

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At present under Australia’s key federal environment law, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, federal environment ministers are not compelled to consider climate change in the approvals process for new fossil fuel developments.

But the Climate Council’s lead councillor, Professor Tim Flannery, one of the letter’s top signatories, said Australian leaders had a moral responsibility to consider emissions from fossil fuels, even when they are exported.

“The best time to do this would have been 40 years ago. The second-best time to do it is right now,” he said, citing climate-related droughts in Europe, China and the US and floods that had displaced more than 30 million people over recent weeks in Pakistan.