G20 summit: Obama puts climate change on agenda with $3bn pledge

BARACK Obama has moved to thrust climate change to the centre of the global political agenda by pledging $3 billion to a global climate fund.

BARACK Obama has moved to thrust climate change to the centre of the global political agenda in the middle of the Brisbane G20 meetings pledging $3 billion to a global climate fund.

The US President used a speech in Brisbane today at the University of Queensland to push the world to do more on climate change.

His comments before the start of the G20 meeting came as United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki Moon described climate change as the “defining issue of our times’’.

Australia has resisted putting climate change on the G20 agenda, arguing it is an economic forum, there is a need to lift world growth, and there are other forums to discuss climate change.

But Mr Moon said: “Climate change is the defining issue of our times, therefore it is only natural that the G20 leaders should focus on this.”

G20 SUMMIT LIVE: Follow our rolling coverage of the G20

Fresh from the US and China announcing an agreement on climate change Mr Moon called on others to follow.

He said he understood that discussions “are going well” in the background.

“I’m sure that there will be a reflection of strong commitment by the leaders of G20 on climate change,” he said.

The secretary-general also stressed human’s “influence” in causing climate change.

IN-DEPTH: G20 special section

Mr Obama said climate change posed particular challenges for the Asia-Pacific region, which faced more extreme weather.

He said the world must protect icons like the Great Barrier Reef.

Mr Obama said he wanted to visit it in the future and he wanted it to still be there for his daughters and their daughters.

He said the $3 billion Green Climate Fund would help developing nations deal with climate change.

“Along with other nations that have pledged support, we’ll help vulnerable communities with early-warning systems, stronger defences against storm surges, and climate-resilient infrastructure,” he said.

“We’ll help farmers plant more durable crops.

“We’ll help developing economies reduce their carbon pollution and invest in clean energy. But combating climate change cannot be the work of governments alone. Citizens — especially young people like you — have to keep raising your voices, because you deserve to live your lives in a world that is cleaner and healthier.

In the wake of last week’s pact between the US and China on climate, Mr Obama challenged the world to do more.

“If China and the US can agree on this, the world can agree on this. We can get this done,’’ he said.

Tony Abbott opened the meeting declaring he wanted it to focus on the politics of economic reform.

Greens Leader Christine Milne said President Obama’s realism on global warming had shown up the “small-minded’’ Australian leader.

“Barack Obama has shown just how small and last century Tony Abbott is,” Senator Milne said.

“The G20 is meant to be addressing the overwhelming problems of our age but Tony Abbott is showing what a small minded and insignificant player he is by whining about domestic politics instead.

“It beggars belief that Tony Abbott has made such a fool of himself, boasting about abolishing an emissions trading scheme in front of a room of people who are committed to taking action on global warming.’’

World Vision chief executive Tim Costello, Oxfam International Executive director Winnie Byanyima and WWF Australia chief executive Dermot O’Gorman urged Australia, as the G20 president, to take the lead and deliver more climate finance throughout the global Green Climate Fund.