Arabic version: أستراليا تدافع عن محادثات المناخ في المحيط الهادئ مع اقتراب تجاوز حد الاحترار

According to ABC News, Australia has defended its Pacific climate talks as a United Nations report warned the world is likely to breach the 1.5C global warming benchmark within the next five years.

Pre-COP is scheduled for Fiji and Tuvalu in early October, before COP31 begins in Türkiye in November. Fiji and Tuvalu are hosting the lead-up meeting following Australia’s unsuccessful bid to host COP31. Fiji foreign minister Sakiasi Ditoka said Antigua and Barbuda, Cabo Verde, Thailand, Maldives and Timor-Leste had agreed to send leaders, while Germany, Mexico and South Korea would send ministers.

Speaking at the Pacific Islands Forum in Palau, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the government had expected pre-COP to draw fewer leaders than COP. He said holding the event in Fiji, with a visit to Tuvalu, would focus attention on the Pacific. Energy Minister Chris Bowen described the meeting as a “key opportunity” for the region.

The UN report found a 1.8C peak above pre-industrial levels was now the best-case scenario, while outlining ways to return to 1.5C after an overshoot. Climate Change Authority chair Matt Kean said limiting every fraction of a degree would reduce danger and costs, and urged faster emissions reductions.

Vanuatu Climate Change Adaptation and Energy Minister Ralph Regenvanu said Australia was not doing enough to curb emissions, calling for an end to future fossil-fuel expansion. Albanese defended Australia’s transition policies, saying renewables require firming capacity and gas has a role in that capacity.