French banks Societe Generale, BNP Paribas and Credit Agricole have ruled out funding for the controversial projects on the doorstep of the Great Barrier Reef.

The three institutions have in the past been significant lenders to Australian coal developments.

In separate letters to Friends of the Earth France, the banks confirmed they would not back the developments, adding to a growing list of global financial institutions that have refused to finance the Galilee Basin.

Indian mining giant Adani, whose Carmichael coal mine project is one of the projects proposed for the Galilee, said it had not formally requested financing from any of the French institutions.

"An institution ruling out something it was not requested to do has no bearing on this company," a spokesman said.

"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."

In its letter to Friends of the Earth, Credit Agricole said it would not lend to the projects "due to the number and magnitude of issues linked to the planned coal development projects in the Galilee Basin".

"Credit Agricole SA does not intend to finance these projects or their associated facilities," the letter says.

Projects in the Galilee Basin have faced fierce opposition from environmental groups because of their proximity to the Great Barrier Reef and the greenhouse gas emissions that would be created by new coal developments.

Adani's Carmichael development, if it proceeds, will be Australia's largest coal project.

It is facing a number of legal challenges from environmental groups.

Queensland's land court is hearing a challenge to Adani's plans by conservation group Coast and Country.

Coast and Country claims the project would contribute to climate change when the coal is burnt overseas, and carbon emissions would damage the Great Barrier Reef through ocean acidification.

US-based Citi and Morgan Stanley said last year they would not finance Galilee Basin projects.

Deutsche Bank and HSBC have also said they will steer clear of what would be the world's largest new coal developments.