The truth is to be found in what action is taken, rather than what is said

The adage that we should not listen to what people say, rather watch what they do is truly applicable to the climate change conversation.

Marshall Islands Foreign
 Minister, Tony de Brum.

Australia stands at the head of the queue on this charge.

The rest of the world, in particular smaller Pacific nations, hear what is being articulated by PM Tony Abbott and his coalition cohort including Foreign Minister, Julie Bishop, but watch stunned as it dismantles Australia’s climate change mitigation infrastructure.

In a story headed: “Marshall Islands calls on Australia to rethink climate change stance”, the ABC reports that the Marshall Islands has joined other Pacific nations in calling on Australia to reconsider its position on climate change.

Interestingly Minister Bishop, who attended the conference in Apia, told the ABC Australia was taking strong and effective action on climate change.

"We know that climate change is an issue of importance to small island developing states," she said.

"We know that they are among the most vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change.

"Our direct action plan is investing over $2.5 billion in an emissions reduction fund which will help achieve (reduction) targets.

"We're working constructively, domestically and internationally, to ensure that all major economies play their fair part in global action."

While what she says sounds positive and encouraging, what is happening here is quite different with the government doing all it can to ignore climate change, disassemble whatever protections existed and taking the country down a path contrary to what is needed if the impacts of a changing climate are to be avoided.