‘Whole world’ must reduce emissions, Wong says

With Australia’s Pacific neighbours on the frontline of climate change, Penny Wong is calling for the “whole world” to cut back emissions.

Penny Wong is calling on the “whole world” to cut back on emissions at a historic summit in Samoa, where climate change poses a deadly threat.

The Foreign Minister is in the Pacific nation for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), which is also being attended by Anthony Albanese and King Charles.

With rising sea levels threatening highly populated areas along the coastlines of Australia’s Pacific neighbours, climate change is the hot topic of the summit.

Senator Wong said on Thursday she was “acutely aware” of the threat climate change poses to the Pacific.

“You know, you might recall Peter Dutton made a joke about water lapping at people’s doors,” she told the ABC.

“Well, we are with them, working with them on how we increase climate resilience, climate adaptation.”

Senator Penny Wong has called on the “whole world” to cut back on emissions. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

She also touted the Albanese government’s efforts to transition Australia to a net-zero power grid by 2050.

“When we came to government, I think some 30 per cent of our electricity was from renewable sources and obviously our target is 82 per cent by 2030, that’s a very big turnaround and we’re well on our way to doing that,” Senator Wong said.

But, she said, while Australia’s actions were important, other developed countries had to step up, too.

“Australia has to reduce its emissions, but ... if we are going to combat sea level rise, temperatures rising ... the whole world will have to reduce emissions,” Senator Wong said.

This is the first CHOGM to be held in a Pacific island country.

Last year, Australia finalised a treaty with Tuvalu offering its 11,200 residents refuge as rising sea levels threat the existence of the low-lying micronation.