Centre-left Albanese was swept to energy this yr on a wave of widespread anger concerning the pro-fossil gas stance of Australia’s decade-old conservative authorities.
Australia hopes to host the 2026 COP summit, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated Saturday, searching for to overtake his nation’s repute for foot-dragging on local weather change.
“It is an efficient alternative, I imagine, for Australia to point out and to host what’s a serious international occasion,” Albanese stated throughout a go to to Bangkok.
Centre-left Albanese was swept to energy this yr on a wave of widespread anger concerning the pro-fossil gas stance of Australia’s decade-old conservative authorities.
He has since launched a 2050 web zero emissions goal—not formidable by world requirements, however a near-revolution for Australia, one of many world’s largest fuel and coal producers.
He has additionally vowed to co-host a COP summit with Pacific Island allies—who’re underneath critical menace from rising sea ranges and who’ve lengthy criticised Australia’s local weather change scepticism.
Albanese could have hoped to host the occasion earlier than he faces reelection in 2025, however diplomatic horse-trading means 2026 is now extra possible.
The United Arab Emirates is slated to host the talks in 2023, a European nation is hoping for the 2024 occasion and Brazil is bidding for the 2025 talks, leaving 2026 because the almost definitely choice for Australia.
“I’ve had a really constructive response from the entire nations that I’ve raised it with,” Albanese stated.
If the summit materialises, it might be symbolic of a dramatic shift for Australia.
At successive COP talks, the nation’s delegation has been a thorn within the aspect of negotiators, refusing to compromise and successful deep carve-outs that considerably weakened general agreements.
The Climate Council’s Wesley Morgan—an skilled on Australia and Pacific coverage—described Australia’s COP bid as a “very massive deal”.
It would, he argued, affirm Australia’s shift away from fossil fuels, enhance generally fraught relations with the Pacific Islands and will drive even Canberra to undertake extra formidable targets.
“Hopefully (it) means Australia will commit critical coverage for deeper emissions cuts this decade,” he stated.
Australia stays a big fossil gas producer and coal mining supplies 1000’s of jobs in key electoral districts.
But simmering public anger at devastating bushfires and two years of large flooding have boosted home assist for change.
Albanese has vowed to show the sun-kissed island-continent into what he calls a “renewable power superpower”.
© 2022 AFP
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Australia goals to host 2026 UN local weather summit (2022, November 19)
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