When the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference gets underway in Glasgow in a month’s time, Australian PM Scott Morrison is likely to be absent.
When it comes to a good climate record, the world knows Australia has faltered. And it doesn’t come as a surprise when Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison is in two minds about attending the all-important COP26 summit.
The COP26 UN Climate Change Conference touted to be the biggest global climate crisis talks happening is a good number of years, is scheduled to get underway in Glasgow, Scotland on October 31st. To be hosted by the UK in association with Italy, the summit will be on for 12 days till November 12, 2021.
Aussie climate record not worth writing about
Scott Morrison’s reluctance to be part of such a conference of extreme significance stems from the fact that the Australian government has been facing a lot of flak for its mismanagement of climate-related work. Though he has not fully decided on travelling to Glasgow for the climate talks, it looks like he wouldn’t actually go.
The Glasgow summit being organised under the aegis of the UN is expected to witness world leaders descend in the Scotland city and deliberate on the future emissions standards, so as to curb slow global warming and keep the rise in temperatures under 1.5C.
COP26 or not, Morrison has other priorities
The BBC has reported that the Aussie Prime Minister has prioritised other pressing issues such as the reopening of Australia’s borders over COP26. He has been quoted saying that his focus at the moment is Covid, reopening of the borders and more.
Australia’s stance on climate affairs falls short of being good. A recent nod for the expansion of a coal mine near Sydney, at a time the global call to put an end to coal projects is getting louder, could be seen as one example of the country’s flawed climate ideas. The country is in fact among the top exporters of coal and gas.
Significantly enough, Australia is supposed to be among the 200 nations that are looked at as presenting their updated 2030 emissions at Glasgow when the COP26 summit gets underway.
Australia has no steps lined up towards zero emissions
Though the country is looking forward to guiding itself towards absolutely nil emissions without delay, the Prime Minister is of the opinion that no steps have been charted out to make that happen as yet. It may be recalled that Australia had resisted committing to the zero-emissions goal by 2050.
Australia has consistently been criticised for its slow climate progress and heavy reliance on coal-fired power – which makes it the most carbon polluting nation in the world per capita.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Marise Payne has been quoted saying that a senior-level representation at the meeting even if the Prime Minister gives it a miss.