Pacific Islands leaders have failed to agree on tough new climate change commitments at an annual summit just ended in the island state of Tuvalu, agreeing instead to endorse a plan that allows them, primarily Australia, to opt out of specific measures they oppose.
Some leaders at the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) had hoped all 18 members would commit to policies that limit temperature rises to no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, and agree to an immediate halt to coal mining.
Reuters Newsagency reports after 12 hours of talks in the capital Funafuti, the leaders failed to secure the consensus required under PIF rules to become regional policy.
Their aim was to issue a compelling global call to action from nations on the frontline of climate change ahead of a United Nations climate summit in New York next month.
Driven by Australia’s opposition to words and phrases relating to coal mining and climate change, they instead endorsed the tough new proposals but with a qualification that allows each member to ignore elements they opposed.
Pacific leaders have warned the world faces a climate crisis but complained their message on global warming had been “watered down” at Australia’s insistence.
“We tried our best,” Tuvalu Prime Minister Enele Sopoaga told reporters in Funafuti, capital of the tiny island nation.
“We should have done more work for our people, we have to live with that,” he added.
The low-lying Pacific islands are on the frontline of global climate change, battling rising sea levels and related crises that have forced some residents to move to higher ground.
Mr Sopoaga said Australia was against adopting the tough new standards, which has stoked tensions with its Pacific neighbours in recent days.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern earlier warned Australia it would have to answer to the Pacific for its climate change policy.
Australia’s conservative Liberal-National Prime Minister Scott Morrison argued stronger environmental action would cripple the country’s economy, which is heavily reliant on coal mining.
Australia signed the UN sponsored Paris Agreement in 2016 that commits signatories to policies that limit temperature increases to no more than 2.0°C.
Mr Morrison, who has repeatedly said Australia will meet its climate change commitments despite indicates to the contrary, defended the agreement reached at the meeting.
“I’m accountable to the Australian people and Australia comes here with a very strong record,” he told reporters.
Mr Morrison is a firm supporter of the coal industry, and his strong backing of a large coal mine planned for the state of Queensland by was seen as a key factor in his government’s surprise re-election at a general election in May.
Seeking to improve its credentials, Australia this week offered $500 million to help the Pacific region invest in renewable energy and prepare for climate change, though some of the region’s leaders said that was not enough.
Mr Morrison denied the split with Pacific nations would damage Australia’s “Pacific step-up”, a push to restore Australia’s leadership credentials in the region and push back against Beijing’s diplomatic inroads.
“We showed up, we’re stepping up, and it’s getting on,” he said.
Australia, the largest and wealthiest PIF member, fears that China’s long-term plan is to establish a military base in the Pacific.
Australia has historically enjoyed virtually unchecked influence in the Pacific, but its sway in the region has been challenged in recent years by China.
“It isn’t helping Australia’s efforts in the Pacific. This is the nature of consensus and compromise,” said Jonathan Pryke, director of the Pacific Islands program at the Lowy Institute, a Sydney think tank.
“That message gets hard when compromise essentially means the loss of livelihoods for some members,” he added.
China has channelled large amounts of economic aid to the region, which Western countries say has left several islands heavily indebted to Beijing and susceptible to China’s ambitions.
However, China has won favour with the region with calls for stronger action to tackle the impacts of climate change.
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