Littleproud’s gaffe and PM's reluctance only reinforce Australia's climate reputation

On one level it appeared just another week in Australian climate politics. A ridiculous statement by a government minister made headlines; the crossbench pushed for stronger action; the prime minister’s office quietly suggested he may not fulfil the next step of the Paris agreement, a deal he has repeatedly promised voters he would honour.

David Littleproud - flip flopping on climate.

Meanwhile, much of the media coverage of climate policy focused on what the opposition might do if it wins power in three years’ time.

But the repercussions from decisions made public this week may reverberate longer than was immediately obvious.

First, the ridiculous. David Littleproud, the minister responsible for drought and natural disasters, made international news after telling Guardian Australia he did not know if climate change was manmade. By Thursday, he was saying he had always accepted the science on the role humans play in the climate changing. He blamed his initial statement on a TV interview being cut short, neglecting to acknowledge it first appeared in an email responding to questions from this publication.

Read the story from The Guardian by Adam Morton - “Littleproud’s gaffe and PM's reluctance only reinforce Australia's climate reputation.”