Australia has been pointed the finger for inaction on climate change by leaders of Pacific countries at meetings in Samoa this week.
Climate warming and sea level rise, which pose a significant threat to smaller Pacific Island nations, are key issues being discussed by more than 50 leaders at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa .
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, along with Foreign Minister Penny Wong, are in Samoa, along with King Charles and Queen Camilla, mindful of climate change.
Tuvalu Prime Minister Feleti Teo published a report which criticized Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom for disproportionately high emissions from fossil fuel extraction within the Commonwealth of Nations, compared to their population ratio.
“Despite rhetoric about climate leadership and Pacific solidarity, Australia’s fossil fuel exports are second only to Russia, with…the largest pipeline of coal export projects in the world awaiting approval” , a statement from the report’s authors, the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, said.
The report says that since richer nations benefit more from coal and gas, they could more easily absorb reductions in fossil fuel production.
“It is a death sentence for us if larger nations continue to open new fossil fuel projects,” said Tuvalu Interior Minister Maina Vakafua Talia.
‘As a Commonwealth family, we must work together to keep alive our Paris commitments to limit warming to 1.5 degrees and lead the way in funding a just transition for countries like ours.
Australia has been pointed the finger for inaction on climate change by leaders of Pacific countries at meetings in Samoa this week (pictured Anthony Albanese in Samoa).
“We call on our wealthiest partners to align with this goal and not fan the flames of the climate crisis with the expansion of fossil fuels.”
In the 2015 Paris Agreement, world leaders committed to trying to prevent global temperatures from rising more than 1.5°C.
Tuvalu’s prime minister said Australia was “highly morally obligated” to take more action to reduce emissions and phase out fossil fuels.
Teo also highlighted leveraging a historic climate resettlement treaty between the two nations to pressure Canberra to do more.
Ms Wong said the approach to climate change issues had improved under the Albanese government and said Australian leaders understood the “scope” of the issue.
“I think we all understand the existential threat that climate change poses to the people of the Pacific,” he told reporters.
Climate-conscious King Charles and Queen Camilla have also met with Pacific leaders in Samoa this week (pictured with members of the Apia Rugby Club).
“I think we all understand the effects of climate change in Australia that we have seen.”
Climate change was a central issue for Australia during talks and forums with Pacific Island nations, Albanese told reporters after landing in Apia on Thursday.
“The price of entry for credibility when it comes to international forums like this is recognition of the challenge of climate change and readiness to act accordingly,” he said Thursday.
“It is up to countries like Australia to show leadership – we have done that.”
A leaders’ meeting will be held on Friday after the King has been shown the impact of rising sea levels on Samoa, forcing people to move.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was also present at the meetings in Samoa, but his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau was absent.