Australia outmanoeuvred on climate change
Julie Bishop has pledged $200 million to a global pot to help poorer nations tackle climate change in a move that sees Australia back flip on Abbott's original G20 rebuttal of the proposed fund.
The Foreign Minister is due to announce the funding for the green climate fund at the UN climate summit in Lima on Wednesday.
The fund will help developing countries to limit or reduce their gas emissions and to adapt to the impacts of climate change.
Australia has been increasingly blasted by the international community for its stance on climate change.
In November, British Prime Minister David Cameron urged Tony Abbott to take out more insurance against climate change even if he doesn't believe in the threat.
At the G20 in Brisbane Cameron said: "Obviously countries that have so far done the least need to think about what more they can do and I've had good and friendly conversations with Prime Minister Abbott about that."
Actress Emma Thompson also singled out Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott's stance on climate change with a bold protest from the Arctic.
Australia’s non-committal stance on a pledge to combat climate change was the hot topic of the G20 this year. The move by Julie Bishop represents a clear shift in focus by Australia which appear to have been outmanoeuvred by influential world powers.
US President Barack Obama shone a spotlight on the fund in his opening speech at the University of Queensland last month, saying that the US would donate US$3 billion.
Japan has pledged US$1.5 billion and Canada and the UK also confirmed they would donate.
Today, Tony Abbott said that Australia would pledge $200 million over four years to the UN Green Climate Fund, “consistent with our commitment to play our part in the global response to climate change”.
The money will bring the total international contributions to the fund to US$10 billion, which far exceeds its initial target.
“All countries should take practical and proportionate steps to take action on climate change while safeguarding economic growth,” Mr Abbott said in a statement.
“The pledge to the Green Climate Fund will facilitate private sector led economic growth in the Indo-Pacific region with a particular focus on investment in infrastructure, energy, forestry (building on the successful Asia Pacific Rainforest Summit hosted in Sydney in November) and emissions reduction programs.
“Australia will continue to take effective action against climate change which is consistent with continued strong economic growth, jobs growth and development.
News break – December 9
