France’s ambassador has urged Australia to embrace stronger 2030 emission reduction targets, as he declared there was “no room for complacency” or “procrastination” ahead of the crucial Glasgow summit.
New analysis by the Climate Council – published on Thursday – found Australia ranked bottom on climate of all developed countries, and would remain there unless a net-zero pledge was accompanied by a more ambitious 2030 target.
That pushback resulted in Morrison abandoning an effort to formally increase the 2030 target in the lead-up to Glasgow, despite pressure from the US and the UK to lift interim targets to help keep the limit of 1.5C of warming within reach.
Asked for his opinion on Australia’s 2030 target, Thébault noted there had been “a lot of experts, very respected, very well known here in Australia, who have already said what they thought should be the right thing to be done”.
The Italian ambassador, Francesca Tardioli, who has previously urged the Morrison government to increase its 2030 target, told the same webinar she hoped leaders of G20 nations including Australia took “the bold decisions that are needed to save our planet”.
The British high commissioner, Vicki Treadell, said it was “fantastic” that Morrison had confirmed he would attend.
It said there were more than 80 coal projects, five new large gas basins and dozens of smaller gas projects proposed in Australia at a time when it said it would cut emissions, and scientists were urging rapid reductions.
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