Anthony Albanese says COP31 speech which didn’t mention fossil fuels was ‘well received’ and ‘appropriate’
Anthony Albanese has defended his decision not to reference fossil fuels in his address to UN climate talks in Turkey, insisting his speech was ‘appropriate’ and ‘well received’.
Anthony Albanese has defended his decision not to reference fossil fuels in his address to UN climate talks in Turkey, insisting his speech was “appropriate” and “well received”.
The Australian PM and Energy Minister Chris Bowen have faced a wave of criticism over their COP31 trip, with scrutiny over costs, the size of the country’s delegation of almost 200 people, and alleged hypocrisy in their climate messaging.
Activist Greta Thunberg was among those to criticise Australia’s track record on climate action while at COP31, saying “even a snail would agree” that the country needs to move faster.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“Even a snail would agree with that. It’s common sense. It doesn’t get more clear than that. The planet is not dying; it is being killed,” Thunberg said.
Speaking in the Mediterranean resort city of Antaly, Mr Albanese said the conference — which Australia is co-hosting — was important for finding global consensus on climate change action.
“You can’t solve the challenge of climate change with just a single idea or a single measure,” he said.
“It requires whole-of-governments, private sector, it requires community to back that support as it goes forward as well.”
When asked about Thunberg’s comments, Mr Albanese said the 23-year-old Swedish activist was entitled to her opinions.
“She’s entitled to her views. What we are doing is putting forward practical plans,” he said.
“You can pick out any number of things that weren’t in what was a short speech.
“I gave a speech which was appropriate, which was concentrating on the impact, particularly on the Pacific.
“Talking about the impact of rising sea levels on Tuvalu, and my speech was well received by my Pacific (nations) friends here.”
Australia, which is one of the world’s largest exporters of coal and gas, has previously faced criticism from climate and Pacific advocates for its support for new coal and gas projects.
Greens leader David Shoebridge says Mr Albanese’s speech should have been “spellchecked” after it omitted the impacts of fossil fuels on climate change.
“(Labor) keep approving dozens and dozens of climate-busting coal and gas projects, and he doesn’t even mention it. We’re a top-three fossil fuel exporter,” Senator Shoebridge told the Today Show.
“No one checked the Prime Minister’s speech? To check that he mentioned fossil fuels? As a keynote speech at a climate conference?”
“One of those 193 people should have spellchecked his speech.”
Just before Mr Albanese had spoken on the same stage, UN secretary general António Guterres had said keeping the 1.5C climate target established under the Paris Agreement alive “means no new coal”.
Independent Senator David Pocock echoed Senator Shoebridge’s criticisms and insisted if Mr Albanese was serious about climate action it must stop expanding fossil fuel projects.
“The fact that the Prime Minister, not once, mentioned fossil fuels, I think shows you how captured the major parties are by the fossil fuel industry,” he said.
“They want to be able to talk about the good stuff we’re doing, but not the fact that the Albanese government has approved 38 fossil fuel new projects or extensions since they came into office.
“And that is not compatible with a livable Pacific.”
Australia has sent 192 official party representatives to the talkfest, from at least 20 different Australian government departments.
Recent contracts through Australia tender show $2.26 million to support the large delegation, it included $1,079,000 for the showcase “Australian pavilion”, $873,000 for hotels, and $32,000 for a coffee contract to supply free brews to conference attendees.
Much of the political debate has broken out over the Albanese government’s coffee cart to supply free brews to conference attendees.
Mr Bowen insisted the expense is justified to “lift Australia’s presence” and reminded reporters that despite his criticisms, Opposition leader Angus Taylor supported the idea when the Liberals were in office.
“I read some of the commentary and indeed some of the Liberal Party statements. You’d think that this is the first time Australia sent a delegation to a COP?,” Mr Bowen said.
“Australia’s had delegations at every COP since Rio 30 years ago.
“Every single government delegation has been appropriate because you’re representing Australia on the stage.
“Angus Taylor took that decision to open a pavilion at a COP. It was also Mr Taylor’s decision to open free coffee, which I also endorse and congratulate him for.
“Good call by Angus. The right call because it’s great public diplomacy.”
The funding of coffees in the Australia pavilion at the Turkey conference prompted a heated clash on Sunrise between Deputy Opposition Leader Jane Hume and Health Minister Mark Butler.
Senator Hume described the coffee cart spending as “excessive” and “performative” amid ongoing cost-of-living pressures and rising energy bills.
“We didn’t spend $30,000 on a coffee cart during a cost-of-living crisis. We didn’t send 200 bureaucrats at a cost of $2 million,” she said.
However, Mr Butler jumped to Labor’s defence, saying the expenditures were “necessary” and an effective way to promote the nation’s offerings on the world stage.
He had echoed former Liberal leader Malcolm Turnbull who had told reporters on the sideline of the conference that it was a smart marketing and soft diplomacy decision.
“I think this is one of the smartest things the Australian Government does at COPs because everyone knows Australian coffee is the best, and it gets people to the pavilion,” he said.
“All the dollars that are spent on marketing here, that is probably the best dollar spent because it gets people to come to the Aussie pavilion.”
The cost of the Australian delegation in Turkey was included in a $147.8 million over three years COP31 and pre-COP package set aside from the 2025-26 budget.
The allocation included more than half a million spent on 99 bureaucrats to attend the Pacific pre-COP.
Shadow energy minister Dan Tehan said a FOI request for pre-COP had revealed the entourage incurred $221,425 on accommodation; $240,470 on flights, $9196 on a travel allowance, and $93,868 on a “contingent” spend.
“Australians are having to cut back because of Labor’s cost of living crisis, but instead of helping them, Chris Bowen and his team have been flying around the world to attend conferences,” Mr Tehan said.
It comes as the AFR revealed on Friday that budget pressures may prompt Labor to wind back taxpayers’ subsidies for household batteries and electric vehicles in next month’s mid-year budget update.
“Every fiscal event, whether it be a budget or a MYEFO, is not only an opportunity but an obligation to review every policy and say is this working exactly as we intended, or are there any changes that we should make,” Mr Bowen told AFR in Turkey.
