Like cramming the night before a big exam, the Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has rushed out a last-minute net zero plan five days before this conference with no new policy and no accountability.
This so-called plan is what Mr. Morrison proudly calls the ‘Australian way’. But anyone who has been to the last 25 COPs knows the Australian way is to block, destroy and delay negotiations and undermine global ambition.
Australia’s current plan has net zero ambition and will have net zero impact.
Instead the world can expect ever-growing coal and gas mining – maintaining Australia’s position as the third largest exporter of fossil fuels behind Russia and Saudi Arabia.
The success of these critical negotiations depends on climate laggards like Australia putting aside their tricks and committing to real action.
Australia is yet to commit to halving emissions this decade (as most other developed countries have done), has refused to sign up to the Global Methane Pledge, refuses to re-join the Green Climate Fund and has resisted calls to phase out coal power.
In fact, Australia has opened three new coalmines in the last month and there are at least 20 new coal projects and three new gas basins in the pipeline.
Despite last week’s announcement, Australia still ranks dead last when it comes to climate action among developed countries.
Australia is one of the sunniest and windiest countries in the world. It’s time for Australia to become part of the solution and become a global renewables superpower. Australian citizens urge world negotiators to ramp up pressure on the Australian Government to increase its ambition.
It’s time for a new ‘Australian way.’