UN bars coal nations from stage at global emissions conference

Australia has been barred from speaking at a UN climate summit in New York next week.

Australia has been barred from speaking at a UN climate summit in New York next week, where China and India will call for ­trillions of dollars more in climate funding from the developed world.

Other big economies, including the US and Japan, have also been silenced because they have not agreed to increase their am­bitions to tackle climate change.

Despite being one of the world’s top investors in ­renew­able energy last year, ­Australia is criticised for relying heavily on coal and refusing to contribute fur­ther money to a green climate fund.

At past meetings, Australia has been called to speak on behalf of the Umbrella Group, which includes­ Japan, the US, Russia, Canada, Israel and others.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said Australia did not have a formal speaking role at the New York summit.

MORE: Chris Kenny — Silencing dissent on climate change is the exact opposite of academic rigour | Academic site bans climate sceptics

China and India, which are still investing in coal-fired power at home and around the world, are treated differently under the UN rules as developing nations.

Both will address the UN conference to argue that the different treatment of developed and developing nations should continue and that more money is needed.

A statement issued by China on Wednesday said: “Climate financ­e is one of the major aspects of ­effective tackling of climate change. As the largest developing country, China is also entitled to funds support.

“China urges the developed countries to honour the commitment of $US100bn allocation each year from 2020 on to support­ the developing world in addressing climate change.”

India said: “Climate finance is a key pillar in enabling climate ­actions.

“The recent estimates for taking climate actions are laying out a case for trillions of dollars, and not billions, in new and additional financing.”

 

The New York conference was called by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to promote greater efforts under the Paris Agreement. Mr Guterres said he wanted “concrete, realistic plans” to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 45 per cent over the next decade, and to net zero emissions by 2050.

Fewer than one-third of the 197 parties to the Paris Agreement will be allowed to address the New York conference.

“Only the boldest and most transformative actions make the stage,” one UN official said.

Britain and France are expected to make new commitments but coal-dependent countries South Korea, South Africa and Japan will not. Brazil, which has been critic­ised over recent fires in the Amazon, has not been invited to speak, nor has Saudi Arabia, which often has been accused of stalling on the Paris Agreement process.

Raising money from the developed world to pay developing ­nations and switch from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources have been highlighted as urgently needed actions by the UN.

Scott Morrison will not be attendin­g the New York conference. Australia will be represented by Foreign Minister Marise Payne.

Australia has said it will keep its existing Paris Agreement target of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by between 26 and 28 per cent from 2005 levels by 2030. The government says this represents a halving of emissions per person, or a two-thirds reduction in emissions per unit of GDP.

A review of the target is not planned until next year.

Under the Paris Agreement, China has said it will try to peak its carbon emissions by 2030. It was unclear whether new measures would be announced by China at the UN conference.

Australia has been criticised for withdrawing support from the UN-backed Green Climate Fund in favour of direct assistance in the Pacific. A Department of Foreign Affairs representative said: “We are investing directly with our regional partners, given the frustrations they have faced with the UN’s Green Climate Fund.”

The fund is part of the Paris Agreement deal. Developed nations­ will raise $100bn a year to help developing nations build infra­structure and cope with the impact of climate change.

At the Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting, the Prime Minister announced that Australia was stepping up its renewable energy investment and climate and disaster resilience in the Pacific. This ­included $500m over five years from 2020 from existing aid funds.