Australia’s election was not just the “referendum” on nuclear that the opposition leader Peter Dutton had insisted on. In addition to removing the political risk that was clouding Australia’s domestic clean energy transition, the emphatic result confirmed Australia’s stance in international climate politics. For the first time in almost two decades, Australian climate policy doesn’t come with the implicit threat of a three-year expiry date. The re-elected government is within Australia’s tradition of active, pragmatic multilateralism. It participates in UN climate negotiations by helping to shape outcomes – like Energy Minister Chris Bowen’s role facilitating critical finance talks last year. It is rightly focused on engagement with Southeast Asian and Pacific neighbours. It does not regard the sea-level rise threatening Pacific neighbours as a laughing matter.This augurs well for Australia’s bid to host next year’s UN Conference of the Parties, or COP, in Adelaide in partnership with the Pacific.
Technology can power Australia to lead climate diplomacy with Pacific family | Lowy Institute
