Australia’s conservative Liberal-National Prime Minister has been put in a potentially embarrassing position as the United States steps up pressure for climate change to be a major focus at this year’s G20 meeting in Brisbane.
The United States is pushing for climate change to be an important agenda item when Australia hosts world leaders at the Group of 20 meeting later this year.
The Australian Financial Review (AFR) newspaper reports the move places Prime Minister Tony Abbott in a potentially awkward position that conflicts with his domestic political agenda.
AFR reports US President Barack Obama’s G20 emissary, Caroline Atkinson, has said “addressing climate change” was an important issue for leaders in addition to Australia’s priorities of promoting stronger economic growth and employment outcomes.
International pressure is mounting on Mr Abbott to take climate change more seriously.
International Monetary Fund managing director Christine Lagarde last month made a veiled criticism about the government’s retreat on carbon pricing, urging Australia to remain a “pioneer” on climate change policy.
AFR reports the latest US comments highlight a potential “elephant in the room” for Australia as G20 chair in 2014 and suggest a rare policy divide between Australia and its close ally.
“There is very much high level focus on the issue of climate and energy efficiency,” Ms Atkinson said at a G20 discussion at a Washington think tank.
“In the G20, whether it’s Beijing where there are issues of air quality, other countries where there have been extreme weather events, or impending water shortages, I think there is a growing understanding of the importance in addressing that.
“The G20 being a political body where leaders can come together is sometimes able to make a breakthrough.”
Mr Abbott has pledged to repeal the former Labor government’s carbon price laws, although the measure is currently stuck in the upper house Senate where the Labor opposition and the Australian Greens Party currently hold the balance of power.
“World leaders are lining up to question Tony Abbott’s climate policy stance,” Labor’s climate spokesman Mark Butler told AFR.
“I doubt Joe Hockey even had climate change as an agenda item at the G20 meeting, but each day Mr Abbott is being reminded that his position is taking Australia backwards while the rest of the world is moving forwards,” Mr Butler said.
AFR reports European countries and Mr Obama are perceived to be more committed to addressing climate change.
The US President’s proposed 2015 budget announced this week offered more than $US1 billion in new funding for technologies to help communities prepare for climate change.
Countries such as Germany, led by conservative Chancellor Angela Merkel, have privately expressed disappointment in Australia unwinding its carbon price.
AFR reports sources in Washington say that when foreign governments and stakeholders have broached climate change in G20 lead-up meetings, Australian government officials have told them the issue is not a priority and suggested other topics be discussed.
