Australia snubbed by 'high-ambition' group at climate talks in New York
Australia was not invited to a meeting of the ''high ambition coalition'' on climate change in New York this week.
By Tom Arup and Adam Morton
Updated April 22, 2016 — 5.11pm first published April 21, 2016 — 11.03am
Nobody likes left being out of the cool gang – especially one they have asked to join.
But that was Australia's fate overnight when it was excluded by a group of countries describing itself as the "high ambition coalition" on climate change, reflecting ongoing wariness about our commitment to cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
The apparent snub came as up to 170 countries gathered at the United Nations in New York to formally sign the Paris climate deal reached last December.
The high ambition coalition – including heavy-hitters such as the US, Canada, Germany and Brazil – came together in Paris in a bid to bolster the strength of a global climate agreement and head-off moves by countries such as India and Saudi Arabia to water down parts of the deal.
That was then: Foreign Minister Julie Bishop hugs then Marshall Islands minister Tony de Brum at the Paris climate summit. Credit:Andrew McLeish
Australia was not initially involved, prompting claims other countries did not believe it was serious about being a player at the talks. Foreign Minister Julie Bishop dismissed this, later saying it had been invited to join by the European Union and had accepted. She hit back at criticism on social media.
But Australia, which is being represented by Environment Minister Greg Hunt in New York for the signing, was not invited to the first meeting of the group since Paris, which was held on Friday morning Australia time.
It is understood Australia has sought ongoing involvement in the coalition, and had reached out to the countries involved through diplomatic channels, but had so far been rebuffed.
A diplomatic source said of the New York get-together: "They [Australia] were definitely aware of the meeting. There is definitely ongoing interest."
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop says Australia was invited to join the climate coalition. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
Asked why Australia had not been invited, another diplomatic source said it had not been involved in the main work of the coalition in Paris.
Erwin Jackson, the Climate Institute's deputy chief executive, said it was likely that Australia's weak climate policies had led to it being left out.
"We've got a 2030 target consistent with 3 to 4 degrees of global warming and we've got a domestic policy framework that has seen emissions increase from the electricity sector," Mr Jackson said.
"It is difficult to be in a high ambition coalition if you are a low ambition country."
Fairfax Media asked Ms Bishop's office why Australia had not been invited. A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokeswoman replied, saying the government was pleased to have joined the high ambition coalition at Paris where "together we sent a strong signal that a broad range of countries were committed to an ambitious outcome".
"Australia remains committed to working constructively with all parties to take action on climate change and we will look to ratify the Paris agreement as soon as possible," the spokeswoman said.
The Paris agreement comes into force once 55 countries, representing at least 55 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, ratify the deal. Mr Hunt told the ABC on Wednesday that he hoped that Australian would ratify the deal this year.
Australia is not the only country left off the invitation list for the New York meeting. Japan, which sought to join the coalition late in Paris and got as far as being included on a formal membership list that was circulated following the meeting and did not include Australia, also wasn't invited.
It is understood the New York meeting discussed how the countries involved would start translating the Paris deal – including a goal of keeping global warming to within 1.5 degrees of pre-industrial levels – into practice back home. It also heard from civil society and business leaders, including former US vice-president and climate change campaigner Al Gore.
A spokeswoman for Mr Hunt said ahead of the signing ceremony Australia had attended an oceans roundtable, a Canada-led event with countries looking to ratify the Paris agreement quickly and a bilateral meeting with the United Arab Emirates to promote renewable energy investment.