15 Dec 2020

Pacific leaders call out Australia over urgent climate action

From , 5:02 am on 15 December 2020

The Pacific Islands Forum is calling on Australia not to let its neighbours sink due to the impacts of climate change.

The call was made at the Forum leader's summit on the fifth anniversary of the Paris Agreement and ahead of UN-brokered talks on the issue.

Addressing the virtual meeting, Australia's Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, emphasised Canberra's commitment to abandon its plan to use Kyoto protocol carryover credits to meet its Paris Pact targets.

But as Christine Rovoi reports as the region's biggest gas emitter, Australia has declined a timeline on reaching net-zero emissions.

Pacific Islands Forum Chair and Tuvalu Prime Minister Kausea Natano addresses the UN on climate change.

Pacific Islands Forum Chair and Tuvalu Prime Minister Kausea Natano addresses the UN on climate change. Photo: Supplied/UN