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)
Australia's in person delegation to the United Nations General Assembly, 77th session, was lead by Foreign Minister Penny Wong and included Yawuru elder from Broome and Senator Patrick Dodson.
Although the media reporting concentrated on her remarks regarding the need to reform the United Nations, the Ukraine War and geopolitics, a substantial amount of her speech focussed on Australia's escalating action addressing climate action both for Australia and in the Pacific region.
The pledge was developed by the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), Belize, Bhutan, Colombia, Costa Rica, the EU, Finland, Kenya, Seychelles, the UK and an alliance of organisations.
It is part of the UN convention on Biological Diversity which is considering a new global draft agreement (PDF) for adoption at Montreal, Canada, from 7 - 19 December 2022 Conference of the Parties meeting (COP15). This is a landmark agreement addressing the biodiversity crisis, an equivalent for what the Paris Agreement did for climate change.
