BNP Paribas, Credit Agricole and Societe Generale sent letters to French environmental group Market Forces stating they would not be getting involved, joining eight other international banks – including Goldman Sachs, Barclays and Morgan Stanley – in ruling themselves out.

Market Forces lead campaigner Julien Vincent was vocal in his support for these missives.

“When it comes to securing finance for their massive coal mine and export terminal, Adani are simply running out of options," he said.

“That some of the world’s biggest lenders to the coal industry can come out and public declare themselves as not involved speaks volumes about how unacceptable this project is from an environmental, reputational and economic standpoint."

Market Forces is now calling on the Australian big four banks – NAB, Westpac, Commonwealth and ANZ – to communicate their intention to not provide financing.

Tim Buckley, an analyst from the Institute of Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, told ABC: “It’s very unusual that so many banks would rule that out.

“I think there are significant reputational risks and that I think has played materially into their decision making.”

That said, Adani itself was nonplussed, the Indian company claiming they could hardly be turned down for something they never asked for.

“[Adani] has not formally requested any financing from the institutions you have referred to,” a spokesman told AFP.

In a statement the spokesman followed up: "An institution ruling out something it was not requested to do has no bearing on this company.

"Adani’s projects in Queensland comply with the strictest environmental conditions in a world’s best practice environmental approvals framework.

"The company continues to progress the financing arrangements for its projects in Australia."

The Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk was quizzed on her view of the situation at a press conference unveiling the Commonwealth Games work at Carrara.

“Well, it’s up to the proponent, Adani, to get the financial backing that they need to proceed. I have said very clearly that my government supports the creation of jobs from the Galilee Basin, but it has always been up to the proponents to get the finance they need,” she said.

When pressed on how difficult the project now looked, she added: “Look, it’s a matter for them to address really. I mean they’re the proponents, they want to invest in Queensland, and they need to make sure that they have the financial backing.”

The head of the Queensland Resources Council, Michael Roche, backed Adani’s comments, labelling the environmental opposition’s tactics “naive”.

"It's probably one of the more naive publicity stunts because it's trying to get people to believe that a project that has been underway for years is only now trying to deal with the financing of the project," he said.

"These particular French banks are not part of the plans, so it's a bit of a nonsense to say these banks aren't going to finance the project when they haven't been approached to finance the project."

Furthermore, a petition circulated by the Wangan and Jagalingou (WAJ) people against the mine has gained over 87,000 signatures. Only last month the WAJ turned down an Indigenous Land Use agreement with Adani, and put a Defence of Country Declaration to Peter Wellington, Speaker of the Queensland Parliament.

Adani and environmental group Coast & Country currently locked in a hearing before the Queensland Land Court, the former attempting to deny Adani a mining lease by citing a number of environmental issues. At least three other court cases are in action or pending.

Adani had previously claimed that a spokesman – Adrian Burragubba – was not authorised to speak for the WAJ people. However, this was followed by a statement from the WAJ Traditional Owners Family council confirming Burragubba was allowed to “speak on their behalf about their opposition to the mine and their determination to protect their land and their culture”

The Carmichael mine, rail and port project would be the largest thermal coal mine in Australia, should it get the green light to go ahead.