Australia remains out of step with the rest of the world when it comes to climate change and it seems the country’s lawmakers are non-apologetic about their apathy.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott will not be attending the Global Climate Change summit in New York. He, along with leaders from Asian countries, has ignored the UN’s pleas to get world leaders together to debate issues surrounding climate change.
While there is international pressure on Australia to get serious about climate change the Abbott government has made Australia the first country to repeal a carbon tax. While the government offered a consolation prize by planning to cut emissions, the policy is still in limbo at Senate level with little political support.
Last week the World Bank released a statement signed by 73 countries and about 1000 businesses and investors – all in support of carbon pricing. While countries like China, Indonesia and Britain were among the signatories Australia was peculiarly absent – yet again.
While Australia isn’t saying it is against the summit, it is thought that the country won’t contribute much towards achieving the summit’s end goals. This is supported by the fact that Prime Minister Tony Abbott did not turn up for the event.
Although he sent Foreign Minister Julie Bishop to represent Australia at the talks, she will be attending the summit without confirmation on Australia’s plans to address neither climate change nor how the country plans to proceed with the proposed efforts to reduce carbon emissions further than the paltry attempt languishing at Senate.
Instead Bishop is coming to the table by offering an Asia-Pacific rainforest conference scheduled for November.
Some believe that these issues shines a big (non-energy efficient light) on a government that seems to view climate change as little more than an annoying little problem of international relations.
