Australian Targets

Monday, September 30, 2024

Statements by Foreign Minister Senator Wong on Climate at UN General Assembly September 2024

Australian Foreign Minister Senator Penny Wong is in New York for the United Nations General Assembly.  She represented Australia on the Palestine/Gaza/Israel debates, but also on climate action in various forums including Australia's National Statement to the General Assembly.

Climate action was part of her speech of Australia's National Statrement to the General Assembly, including advocacy to hold COP31 in 2026, while back in Australia Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek approved three thermal coal projects on 24 September 2024 in a move criticised as ‘the opposite of climate action’ (Guardian) Merri-bek outrage over coal mines decision- coal approval last straw. (CAMerribek) Rising Tide blocks Newcastle coal train (ABC News)


Excerpt of Australia's National Statement to UN General Assembly

28 September 2024

Climate change is causing more disasters, reversing years of development gains overnight.

Extreme weather threatens food and water security, with grave implications for global stability.

Australia is acting at home, enshrining our ambitious emissions reduction targets into legislation: 43 per cent by 2030 and net zero by 2050.

We are transforming our economy.

Within this decade, 82 per cent of Australia’s electricity generation will be renewable, up from around 32 per cent when I first addressed you two years ago.

We are building new industries to accelerate our economic transition and to export reliable, renewable energy to the world.

And we are acting internationally, to respond to our partners.

By the end of 2025, Australia will offer Climate Resilient Debt Clauses in our sovereign loans.

And the groundbreaking Australia-Tuvalu Falepili Union Treaty entered into force on 28 August.

It is the first time two nations have recognised, in a legally binding treaty, continuing statehood and sovereignty, notwithstanding the impacts of sea-level rise.

This agreement supports Tuvaluans to live and thrive at home through land reclamation and investments in infrastructure, education and health.

At the same time, Tuvaluans have the choice to live, study and work in Australia.

‘Mobility with dignity’ means ensuring people have a genuine choice to stay.

Pacific voices have demonstrated sustained, clear and innovative leadership, as well as tremendous resilience.

This is why we are bidding to host COP31 in partnership with the Pacific.

We want to show the world the unique climate challenges facing our region and amplify the voices of Small Island Developing States, the custodians of our world’s oceans.

President, we know that along with climate change, technology will define the multilateral system and development goals for decades to come.

We want safe, accessible technology that is used for the global good – not as a tool for censorship, surveillance, exclusion and division.

Senator Wong Climate tweets from X

Meanwhile, back in Australia Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek was approving three new thermal coal mine projects.

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