Pacific links mean we’ll always have Paris

Scott Morrison says Australia will stay in the Paris agreement because pulling out would alienate Pacific countries.

Scott Morrison says Australia will stay in the Paris Agreement because pulling out would alienate Pacific countries and technological improvements will mean Australia delivers its promised carbon emissions cuts “in a canter”.

The Prime Minister yesterday stressed the strategic importance of staying in the Paris Agreement, just days after Australia endorsed a new Pacific security pact that identifies climate change as the “biggest single threat” to the region.

“In the Pacific, this is an issue which is incredibly important,” he told 2GB’s Alan Jones.

“In the Pacific, this issue dominates their thinking and agenda. Now the Pacific is one of the most strategic areas of influence in our world today.”

The move came as a climate change advisory firm backed by some of the nation’s top businesses called on Labor and the Greens to join forces to combat the ­Coalition’s “destructive” and “ideological” climate policies.

Carbon Market Institute chief executive Peter Castellas said the firm, which counts big banks and the Australian Energy Market Operator as members, did not believe Mr Morrison had the “political will” to combat climate change.

In a bulletin to members, Mr Castellas said Labor, the Greens and interested crossbenchers should devise a policy together and go to the election with it, noting the two parties worked together in devising the Gillard govern­ment’s carbon tax.

“Many would agree that the Coalition government does not instil confidence that it is committed to implementing effective policies to reduce absolute emissions across the economy and meet its own Paris target,” Mr Castellas wrote.

“The small, vocal brigade of ­irresponsible climate sceptic MPs will maintain their ideological, ­destructive campaign.”

However, Mr Morrison told 2GB Australia would meet its Paris commitments without making painful policy changes. “Twenty-six per cent, we will meet in a canter. It won’t have any impact on electricity prices,” he said.

“What it will do, we will just meet it because of technology and business as usual.”

Foreign Minister Marise Payne endorsed a security statement at last week’s Pacific Islands Forum in Nauru acknowledging climate change as the main threat to the region but pushed back against smaller island states for stronger and more urgent action to cut ­carbon emissions.

Australia will be expected to contribute to a new $1.5 billion climate resilience fund to help island nations adapt to the impacts of rising sea levels and more frequent natural disasters, following the resolution at the 49th annual meeting of Pacific nations in Nauru this week.

CMI counts three of the four big banks as its corporate members — Commonwealth Bank, Westpac and ANZ — as well as energy retailers AGL, Energy Australia and Origin Energy.

Qantas, Virgin Australia, Wesfarmers, Shell, Woodside and BP are also members.