Scott Morrison defiant as UN bans Australia from climate conference

Scott Morrison claims he’s not bothered by the UN snubbing his bid to attend a global summit just days after he said he would be there to ‘correct the record’.

Scott Morrison is sure an international climate summit that banned Australia will be “very nice” but insists he is not bothered by the snub.

The Prime Minister will not be among 70 world leaders invited to speak at the UN’s virtual Climate Action Summit this weekend after Australia’s climate ambitions were deemed unacceptably weak to be offered a place.

Countries were invited to make a proposal before the summit, outlining concrete steps to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

Scott Morrison insists he’s not bothered by the snub. Picture: Sam Mooy / Getty Images

Mr Morrison had planned to announce Australia would ditch its controversial use of Kyoto carry-over credits to meet its Paris Agreement commitments. But the pledge was not considered significant enough to warrant an invitation.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson will co-host the online forum, and the snub has reportedly angered the Morrison government. But Mr Morrison said Canberra and London had agreed on the need for a consensus on energy technology.

He told reporters on Friday his government would “continue to just get on with the job” despite the rejection.

“I wish them well for the summit. I’m sure it’ll be very nice,” he said.

“What matters here is what you get done, not what you talk about. Australia’s getting it done, and I’m very proud of what Australians are achieving.

The Morrison government was reportedly angered by the UK’s decision to opt against inviting Australia. Picture: AAP Image / Mick Tsikas

“I’m very thankful for the support that we’ve had both from households around the country as well as industry and farmers.”

The government had argued it was entitled to use “carry-over credits” from the Kyoto agreement but has since signalled it would reverse course on the policy. The credits are from overachievements under the Kyoto Protocol between 2008 and 2012.

Christiana Figueres, who ran negotiations for the historic Paris Agreement in 2015 at the UN, described their use as “cheating” last week.

“It is just a total lack of integrity and not something that does Australia proud,” she said.

But Mr Morrison said the credits had been “earned” and reiterated the government was “well on track” to meet its 2030 targets.

Labor climate spokesman Mark Butler said the snub showed the Morrison government had become increasingly isolated on the world stage.

The government had planned to walk back its use of Kyoto carry-over credits at the summit. Picture: Lee Celano / AFP

The incoming Biden administration has committed a net zero emissions target by 2050, and the opposition has urged the government to join the President-elect’s commitment.

Mr Morrison has so far resisted the demand.

He told parliament last week he would attend the summit to “correct mistruths” about his government’s climate change policies.

But he revealed on Thursday that Australia had not been invited, saying he was not fixated on international approval.

“The only approval I seek apologies from for my side of government is for the Australian public. That’s it,” he said.

“The only people I answer to in this place is the Australian people. Our government stands to serve the Australian people.”