Revealed: 'fierce' Pacific forum meeting almost collapsed over climate crisis

Critical talks at the Pacific Islands Forum almost collapsed twice amid “fierce” clashes between the Australian prime minister, Scott Morrison, and Tuvalu’s prime minister, Enele Sopoaga, over Australia’s “red lines” on climate change.

The leaders of Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu,
 New Zealand, Fiji and Samoa talk before
the group photo at the Pacific Island Forum.

Ralph Regenvanu, Vanuatu’s foreign minister, who was part of the drafting committee of the forum communique and observed the leaders’ retreat, said there was heated discussion over the Australian delegation’s insistence on the removal of references to coal, setting a target of limiting global warming to below 1.5C and announcing a strategy for zero emissions by 2050.

He described the discussions as “frank, fierce at times, [with] very strong positions being held”.

“Negotiations almost broke down twice, [with leaders] saying ‘this is not going to happen, we’re not going to have a collective decision’,” he said. Leaders had to take a break from proceedings, which started about 9.30am local time and lasted for almost 12 hours.

Read the story from The Guardian by Kate Lyons - “Revealed: 'fierce' Pacific forum meeting almost collapsed over climate crisis.”

PM admits Australia Paris target toothless, Coalition completely at sea on energy

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has cleared the air on his party’s position on the Paris climate agreement: We won’t be pulling out of it. Why? There is no need, because it will have precisely zero impact on business-as-usual in Australia.

In an interview with Sydney radio shock-jock Alan Jones and former Abbott advisor Peta Credlin on Sky News on Tuesday, Morrison reiterated that his government would not spend any new money on the global climate compact, but ruled out “ripping up” Australia’s part of the deal.

Australia, as a signatory to the Paris Agreement on climate change, has committed to reduce its total emissions to 26-28 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030, and pitch for zero net emissions by 2050.

Read the story by Sophie Varrath from RenewEconomy - “PM admits Australia Paris target toothless, Coalition completely at sea on energy.”

Tony Abbott's views conflcit with those of the World Bank

Tony Abbott has views that conflict with those of the World Bank.

The Australian Prime Minister is on record declaring coal as good for humanity, while the World Bank rejects any notion that coal can cure poverty.

The World Bank said on Wednesday that coal was no cure for global poverty, rejecting a main industry argument for building new fossil fuel projects in developing countries.

A story in the Guardian said: “In a rebuff to coal, oil and gas companies, Rachel Kyte, the World Bank climate change envoy, said continued use of coal was exacting a heavy cost on some of the world’s poorest countries, in local health impacts as well as climate change, which is imposing even graver consequences on the developing world.”

Read the story - “World Bank rejects energy industry notion that coal can cure poverty”.