“Strong commitments will make strong friendships among climate-vulnerable Pacific Islanders ... To anyone who may think that Australia is too small to make a real difference, there are a number of small island states in your backyard that beg to differ,” he said, adding that renewed climate ambition by the US was an opportunity to increase global action.
Mr Bainimarama’s comments come as speculation increases that the US will soon announce a dramatic increase to its reduction target of 26-28 per cent by 2025 from a 2005 baseline. Such a move may increase pressure on Australia to cut its own slightly weaker goal, a reduction of 26-28 per cent by 2030.It is thought the US will make an announcement on its target in the days before the April 22 climate summit called by President Joe Biden.
He said when Australia first set its 26-28 per cent target it had pegged it to the comparatively low US target. With US ambition leaping ahead, Australia will be further isolated on the world stage, he said., the Australian government defended its decision to stick to the target as an “ambitious, fair and responsible” effort to keep global average temperature rises to below 2 degrees.
He cited Boris Johnson’s decision to invite Australia, South Korea and India to upcoming G7 talks in Cornwall in June, as well as the recent comments by John Kerry, the former US Secretary of State appointed by President Biden to lead US climate efforts, that the US and Australia had “differences” over climate.
npomalley With weak words and no gov plan its only a matter of time before sufficient people arrive on an AU shore at the same time and location to set up a colony.
npomalley Is Frank calling in US, China, India too?