Joe Biden set to invite Scott Morrison to White House climate summit

After his first official call with the new US President, Scott Morrison said the pair discussed White House talks in April.

US President Joe Biden is set to invite Scott Morrison to a White House climate summit in April, and the new US leader has not pushed the Prime Minister to commit to net zero emissions by 2050.

After the President called Mr Morrison on Thursday for the first time since he took the White House, Mr Morrison said he and Mr Biden discussed the need to lead on climate technology. Energy Minister Angus Taylor and Presidential Envoy on Climate John Kerry earlier agreed to set up a joint working group on low emission technology.

Mr Morrison and Mr Biden also discussed the pathway towards net zero emissions, as the Australian leader says he would like to meet that climate action goal “preferably” by 2050.

The Prime Minister also denied Mr Biden pushed Australia to strengthen its climate targets.

“We had a very positive discussion about the path we’re on, and the commitments that we’ve made. And, more importantly, how we have been able to exceed those commitments,” Mr Morrison said in Canberra.

“The strong level, particularly of solar in households take-up in Australia, which is the strongest in the world. And also what we’ve achieved in terms of our emissions reductions since 2005, which indeed is higher than what has been achieved in the United States and almost double that of the OECD.

“We’re very focused on the technological challenge, and joining together not just Australia and the United States – I mean, they are going to be investing significantly in those technologies.”

After the phone call, Mr Morrison said the pair discussed the April climate leaders summit and that the “invitation is coming.”

It comes after Mr Morrison was snubbed last year from a similar climate summit organised by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Mr Biden also told the PM the Australia-US relationship was an anchor for peace and security in the Asia-Pacific region.

The Prime Minister and Mr Biden spoke about the coronavirus, security issues in the Indo-Pacific, and looked forward to the 70th anniversary of the ANZUS alliance this year.

“We talked about the stewardship we share, a stewardship that has been held by prime ministers and presidents over a very long time. And particularly this year. some 70 years of the ANZUS Alliance that we will celebrate in September of this year,” Mr Morrison said in Canberra.

“(We) spoke of the fact that Australia looks to the United States, but we never leave it to the United States. We do our share of the heavy lifting in this relationship, and that is absolutely respected by the President and appreciated.

“Whether it’s on COVID and whether it’s on the economic recovery, global and regional security issues, the multilateral initiatives and reforms that we are partnering in. But also, as we discussed today, achieving a net-zero pathway through technology, and the co-operation that is needed to do that, and the work that has already begun.”