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The foreign minister of one of Australia’s most important regional allies has expressed shock at the Opposition’s decision to ditch its commitment to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Papua New Guinea’s top diplomat, Justin Tkatchenko, conducted an interview with SBS News from Port Moresby on Thursday afternoon.
When asked if the Coalition’s decision worried him, he replied: “Of course it does”.
“You wonder what planet they are on, going down that track.”
It will still be possible for moderate politicians in the Coalition to express that reaching net zero would be “welcome”, but the priority will be on driving down power prices with a policy platform that could include taxpayer investment in coal-fired power stations.
Tkatchenko said that, while he understood the parties were trying to engage with the concerns of their constituents and regional communities, “we need to look at the bigger picture”.
“We have to do the right thing.”
“This won’t benefit them, nor will it benefit us,” remarked Sussan Ley during an interview with SBS News.
PNG is among the top 20 most at-risk countries from climate change and natural hazards, according to Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong had warned the Pacific saw climate change as their top priority.
“So, when parties ostensibly of government in our country do this, or make jokes about water lapping at the door, or demonstrate to them that they simply are not prepared to act, what the Pacific take from that is disrespect,” she said on ABC’s Insiders political program.
“Now, we know our prosperity and our security is tied to our region. This just demonstrates again that the Coalition not only would impose higher costs on Australians, but would impose a cost on Australia in our region.”
He said the decision to jettison net zero bipartisanship would drive down investment and eventually economic growth, and “damage our relationships in the region”, including on security.
“President Prabowo last night over dinner spoke about the actions that Indonesia is taking because of rising sea levels in Indonesia, including the work they’re doing with the Netherlands about protecting Jakarta from rising sea levels.”
“All of that will be undermined if there is a view that Australia doesn’t believe in what they regard very much as an existential challenge, a challenge for their environment, but also a challenge, of course, for their economy as we go forward. So there’s a stark contrast in Australian politics today.”
But, in an interview with SBS News, Sussan Ley dismissed claims the policy would invite regional fears about Australia’s commitment to dealing with climate change.
“I value the relationship that we have with the Pacific, but I also note that the Pacific has very good relationships with some of the world’s largest emitters, including China and the US,” she said.
“I saw Penny Wong talking about this and I don’t know why the prime minister is papering over the failures of his energy policy with this sort of discussion. That’s not what this is about.”
“What this is about is making sure that Australians have affordable energy. and that we do play our part responsibly in reducing emissions.”
