Chris Bowen’s climate pledge at odds with Anthony Albanese’s backing of gas and coal
Chris Bowen must navigate growing tensions between Pacific allies demanding fossil fuel cuts and Anthony Albanese’s support for gas expansion.
Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen is signalling to Pacific allies that a transition away from fossil fuels will be central to his work as the world’s new top emissions reduction negotiator, despite Anthony Albanese backing in gas use and coal exports at the G20.
With the final COP30 treaty in Brazil failing to put a fossil fuels phase-out plan in its final text and a walkout by some countries that want coal and gas decimated, Mr Bowen said he would work hard with Turkey to make the compromised climate summit in Antalya next year a success and forge a plan to limit the rise in global temperatures to 1.5C.
As he tries to balance his roles as a top cabinet minister back home and a COP diplomat, Mr Bowen faces months of trying to appease nations – including the Pacific island countries – who fear this year’s COP did not go far enough on fossil fuels.
Mr Bowen also faces pressure from the nation’s mining lobby to hold the line on gas, and must now also balance his own Prime Minister’s strong support this weekend for the use of the fossil fuel in our net-zero strategy.
When asked in Brazil on Sunday whether he would do more with Turkey on moving away from fossil fuels, Mr Bowen said it was Australia and the Pacific nations that first fought for anti-fossil language at the COP summit in Dubai in 2023 in the first place.
“I’m not going to start getting into the COP31 negotiations because we haven’t quite finished COP30 yet, but I will say this: the transition away from fossil fuel language was first inserted in Dubai,” he said.
“It was Pacific and Australian language, which we argued should be inserted in Dubai, and we were successful in arguing that … and that’s something that we’re pleased about.
“And obviously we’ll continue to argue for things that are in the best interest of Australia and the Pacific together.”
The Prime Minister at South Africa’s G20 summit – where world leaders rebuked a boycotting Donald Trump on everything from net zero to trade – declared he would put no limit on coal exports, and dug over his support for new gas extraction in Australia, including the long-stalled project in NSW’s Narrabri.
“(Gas) is needed,” Mr Albanese said in Johannesburg.
“It’s a part of the transition which is occurring.
“What you need to back up renewables is firming capacity, that’s what’s enabling the investment to occur.”
Minerals Council of Australia chief executive Tania Constable on Sunday said it was up to Mr Bowen to use his global prominence through COP to persuade sceptical climate diplomats and activists that gas was essential for the net-zero energy transition.
“Mr Bowen stated in June that ‘Gas has an important role to play in our energy system’ during the transition,” Ms Constable told The Australian.
“He can now use this approach and the Australian experience in his new role to persuade countries (that) want to phase out gas for industry that gas has a vital role in ‘providing the ultimate backstop in our energy grid’, as he put it in June.
“A technology-neutral energy policy including adequate supplies of affordable gas with carbon capture and storage is critical in supporting industry as the cost of carbon compliance rises through the transition.”
She reiterated the centrality of gas in Australia’s energy mix: “Without diverse energy supplies, it will be very difficult to ensure energy remains affordable and reliable during the transition to less carbon-intensive energy sources over the longer term.”
Trade Minister Don Farrell on Sunday told Sky News he was “unequivocal in the view that Chris Bowen’s loyalty is to Australia and the people of Australia”.
“I’m absolutely certain Chris won’t be doing anything other than things that are in Australia’s national interest.
“But remember this: the world by and large is committed to the net-zero project. Australia’s committed to that.
“The G20 countries just recommitted to that over the weekend,” Senator Farrell said.
Mr Bowen’s first major test as COP president of negotiations is set to come by April at the earliest at an interim meeting of climate diplomats, after Brazil promised that delegates angry that language on fossil fuels had been watered down would get another chance to influence the main text before the Anatalya gathering in November 2026.
“Together, Australia, Turkiye and the Pacific will strive to ensure COP31 is a success,” Mr Bowen told the summit in Brazil on Sunday.
“We will maintain a focus on doing all we can to keep 1.5C alive, as this is such an imperative for our planet and our Pacific friends.
“We’ll seek to share innovative and effective climate solutions that help all of us accelerate our energy transition.
“In the year ahead in my role, I’ll carry forward much of the struggle that Brazil has led as Compendium President, and I thank you, (COP) president (André Aranha Corrêa) do Lago and Brazil for getting us here.”
Mr Bowen on Thursday said Australia had ceded its bid to host COP in 2026 and that it would instead be held in Turkey.
However, he has been named president of negotiations and has been charged with “leading the negotiations agenda at COP31, including production of draft texts”.
Despite months of fruitless dealing and the backing of 80 countries, the Brazil COP30 summit made no direct references to fossil fuel in its final statements instead releasing a vague “road map” to rid the world of coal and gas.
As reflected in the G20’s own statements in Brazil, countries like India, Saudi Arabia and China held the line on using fuels to power their developing countries.
The BBC on Sunday reported that nations like Colombia and Uruguay walked out of the plenary session for a time over fossil fuels.
Brazil’s COP president Mr do Lago – whom Mr Bowen will succeed from this week as the chief climate negotiator on the planet – appeased the upset delegates through his promise of an interim meeting where they would be able to push for harder action against coal and gas.
Industry peak body Australian Energy Producers chief executive Samantha McCulloch reiterated the importance of gas in Australia’s energy mix and Australia’s role in satisfying regional demand.
“Natural gas will continue to play an essential role in meeting growing energy demand, ensuring affordability and reducing emissions under all credible net-zero scenarios,” Ms McCulloch said.
“The government’s Future Gas Strategy confirmed that new and continued investment in gas exploration and infrastructure is needed to meet growing gas and LNG demand in Australia and the Asia-Pacific.”
Additional reporting: Richard Ferguson
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