27/09/2019

Scott Morrison Uses UN Speech To Slam 'Internal And Global Critics' Of Australia's Climate Change Policy

ABC News - James Glenday


Morrison defends Australia's action on climate change in UN speech (ABC News)

Key points
  • Scott Morrison tells the UN that critics "willingly overlook or ignore" Australia's work on climate change
  • Earlier, he suggested media was responsible for "misinformation" spread about his Government's climate policies
  • Seemingly referencing Greta Thunberg, Mr Morrison said "we should let our kids be kids"
Scott Morrison has used his biggest moment on the world stage yet to attack "internal and global critics" of his Government's climate change policies.
The Prime Minister has been slammed by scientists and a few business people for skipping a special climate conference in New York on Monday.
Some said the Government had so far failed to put forward a "credible climate or energy policy".
But during a wide-ranging address to the United Nations General Assembly, Mr Morrison hit back, claiming critics "willingly overlook or ignore" the work Australia has done to curb emissions.
"The facts simply don't fit the narrative they wish to project about our contribution," he added.
"Australia is doing our bit on climate change and we reject any suggestion to the contrary."
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The Prime Minister pointed out that Australia is responsible for just 1.3 per cent of global emissions, said the country only accounted for 5.5 per cent of global coal production, and stated that $13.2 billion was invested in clean energy technologies in Australia in 2018.
He also declared the nation had "overachieved" on its 2020 Kyoto protocol targets and would meet its Paris emissions reduction goals too.
"We are committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 26 to 28 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030," Mr Morrison said.
"This is a credible, fair, responsible and achievable contribution to global climate change action."
Earlier in the day he seemed to suggest the media was responsible for spreading "misinformation" about his Government's climate policies.
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"What I've found is when I've sat down with Pacific leaders is they've been quite surprised," he told reporters.
"Criticisms that have been made about Australia are completely false and they're completely misleading and people have had a prejudiced view."
"Where do they get their information from? Maybe they read it.
"Australia's got nothing to apologise for."

Children's climate anxiety being 'facelessly exploited'
During his address, the Prime Minister revealed he received many letters from children concerned about their future.
He said he welcomed "their passion, especially when it comes to the environment".
Mr Morrison also seemed to make a direct reference to Swedish teenage climate change activist Greta Thunberg's highly-publicised address to world leaders on Monday and recent global youth climate strikes.
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"We should let our kids be kids — teenagers be teenagers," he said.
"We must respect and harness the passion and aspiration of our younger generations, rather than allow others to compound or, worse, facelessly exploit their anxiety for their own agendas."
The Prime Minister also seemed to reject a warning from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who said on Tuesday he feared the world could soon experience a "great fracture" and become divided between the United States and China.
Mr Morrison said that the planet was "complex and contested" but added that Australia would continue to work with its "great and powerful friends".
"Many fatalistically see a polarised world where countries feel pushed to make binary choices," he said.
"Australia will continue to resist this path."


Greta Thunberg delivers scathing speech at UN climate summit (ABC News)

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