Source : Perth Now news
Anthony Albanese has come under fire for not addressing the impacts of fossil fuels on climate change in a speech at a global climate summit.
The Prime Minister made the address at the COP31 summit, where negotiations between world leaders are being overseen by Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen.
Mr Albanese said co-hosting the summit was “a historic moment for my country”, and Australia saw its role as co-host at the climate summit to represent those who need urgent climate action.
“(Australia is) proud to be a leader of climate action, proud to be a renewable energy leader creating the clean industries, businesses and jobs of the future, and proud to be here fighting for the interests of our Pacific family,” Mr Albanese told delegates.
“We wanted to speak for the people of the world who need urgent action, including those from our Pacific family. Their brave and resourceful people need us to act, and they’re pleading for us to do so, politely but with absolute clarity.”
Mr Albanese has copped intense criticism for attending the summit given cost of living pressures back home, including five recent interest rate rises.
Mr Bowen has also come under fire after it was revealed Australian taxpayers would fork out $2.2m in hospitality and hotel bills covering his attendance.
In his speech, Mr Albanese pointed to Australia’s renewables energy push in setting a standard in the fight against climate change.
“Australia is playing our part. Our target is ambitious, our progress is strong and our successes are significant,” he said.
“In just six years Australia has doubled renewables generation, which now accounts for half of our electricity mix. We proudly have one of the largest rooftop solar and battery markets in the world – more than 600,000 batteries installed in the past year alone, something extraordinary for a nation of just 28 million people.”
United Nations secretary-general Antonio Guterres told the conference countries needed to abandon new coal projects to keep the target of limiting global temperatures to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels within reach.
“Every government must align its policies, investments and infrastructure plans accordingly. That starts with credible national road maps to transition away from fossil fuels – protecting workers and communities,” he said.
“That means no new coal. No new oil and gas infrastructure that puts 1.5 degrees further out of reach.”
Other summit attendees have accused Mr Albanese of not addressing the fossil fuel industry as being a primary driver of the climate crisis.
Australian Conservation Foundation chief executive and former Greens leader Adam Bandt said the speech did not heed Mr Guterres’ warning.
“The prime minister’s speech wasn’t just a missed opportunity, but by refusing to rein in coal and gas expansion or even mention it once, it was a snub to the secretary-general’s call to tell the truth,” he told The Guardian.
“At this summit, Australia is getting repeatedly called out for opening new coal and gas mines and the government can’t dodge it forever.”
Independent MP Nicolette Boele, who is the only non-government MP attending the summit, told the ABC Australia’s climate leadership must be “earned at home” first.
“That has to start with a reliable, orderly plan for transitioning away from fossil fuels,” she said.
The COP31 summit conceded this week the 1.5 degree temperature target would be missed. Mr Albanese said this was even more of an impetus to deliver action for future generations.
“We have a solemn responsibility to this and to future generations to act. This is a critical decade, we must take that action now,” he said.
“While we will likely overshoot 1.5 degrees, every fraction of a degree of warming we prevent will count.”
The Summit will also aim to garner support for and introduce a global goal for 35 per cent of global energy consumption to come from electricity by 2035.
