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https://theconversation.com/talk-isnt-enough-pacific-nations-say-australia-must-end-new-fossil-fuel-projects-237749>
"This week, one of the world’s largest fossil fuel exporters went to a meeting
of island states strongly affected by human-induced climate change.
Or, in more conventional language, Australian leaders attended the annual
Pacific Islands Forum in Tonga.
Since 1971, this forum has been the top diplomatic meeting for Pacific nations,
including Australia and New Zealand. Security was on the agenda this year,
against a backdrop of geopolitical manoeuvring and unrest in New Caledonia. But
one issue made its presence felt above all else: climate change.
At the forum’s opening, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres made
that clear:
There is an enormous injustice in relation to the Pacific and it’s the
reason I am here […] The small islands don’t contribute to climate change
but everything that happens because of climate change is multiplied here.
Australia is walking a difficult line at the summit. Pointing to our domestic
green energy progress isn’t enough. Our neighbours are focused on Australia’s
emergence as the world’s second largest exporter of fossil fuel emissions and
steady opening of more gas and coal fields. Even as Australia’s climate and
migration pact with Tuvalu came into effect, Tuvalu’s climate change minister,
Maina Talia, called for an end to the “immoral and unacceptable” acts of
opening new mines, continuing fossil fuel subsidies and exporting fossil fuels.
Australian leaders hope to co-host the world’s top climate talks in 2026 in
partnership with Pacific Island nations. While some Pacific leaders are opposed
to co-hosting without an Australian pledge to end new goal and gas projects,
others see it as a way Australia can show it is truly part of the “Pacific
family”."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
