CANBERRA (CU)_The Biden administration on Thursday (19 August), criticised Australia’s climate ambition, pointing out that while the Pacific nation is succeeding in meeting its commitments under the Paris Agreement, this was no longer sufficient. Addressing the Better Futures Forum in Sydney via video, the deputy climate chief of the United States, Jonathan Pershing, pointed out the IPCC report published by the UN climate experts highlighted that much more aggressive efforts are required from all nations in minimising their carbon emissions, adding that in industries such as coal and other fossil fuels, Australia is “not doing so well”.
Nevertheless, the Morrison government hit back at Washington’s criticism, saying it is slashing its greenhouse gas emissions at a rate faster than most developed economies, including the US, which is exporting oil and gas at record levels. “While ambition is important, outcomes are what ultimately matter,” Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor, told The Australian Financial Review, hours after Pershing’s comments. “Australia will continue to act in a practical, responsible way to be part of the global solution to reduce emissions without destroying jobs or regional communities,” he added.
According to President Biden’s deputy climate envoy, although Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions amount to about 1 per cent of the global sum, the Pacific nation is still among the world’s top 20 emitters. “If a country, a wealthy country like Australia is unable to move forward, it’s very hard for poor nations to think how they might do it,” Pershing noted.
He further noted that as the international community accelerates its efforts to slash their carbon emissions by 50 per cent on 2005 levels by the end of this decade, if Canberra fails to join the movement, it will have to explain “why not”.
However, in the eyes of the Morrison government, the US is yet to deliver on its own promises, with the much awaited UN climate summit just a few months away. According to data issued by the US Energy Information Administration, in the first quarter of this year, the country’s coal production was 4.5 per cent higher from the fourth quarter of 2020. In the case of liquefied natural gas, the country’s exports in the first six months of 2021 was also up by a whopping 42 per cent from the same period a year ago.
