Prime Minister pitches to restore Australia's climate reputation at Sydney Energy Forum ahead of Pacific Islands Forum
Anthony Albanese will say Australia "is eager and ready" to do its part on climate change. (AP: Mark Baker)
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is seeking to repair Australia's international reputation on climate change, with a vow to "once again be a trusted global partner" on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Key points:
- The Sydney Energy Forum will bring together government and industry leaders from the Indo-Pacific region
- The PM will try to restore Australia's reputation following years of limited climate action
- Australia wants to co-host future UN climate talks with Pacific nations
In a speech to the Sydney Energy Forum on Tuesday, Mr Albanese will declare Australia "eager and ready" to move to a net zero world and extol Australia's research and engineering capacity in clean energy technologies.
The forum is co-hosted by the Australian government and the International Energy Agency, with the aim of bringing government and industry leaders together to advance the development of clean energy in the Indo-Pacific region.
The international conference was conceived by the former Coalition government as a means of driving technological developments it was relying upon to achieve emissions reductions.
But it has been embraced by Mr Albanese, who is using it as an opportunity to improve Australia's international reputation on climate action.
"As Prime Minister, I am committed to renewing Australia's standing in our region," he is expected to say in his speech opening the forum.
"We need to act and we will act … This is a matter of urgency, but also optimism."
'I am ambitious about what we can achieve together'
Albanese has upped Australia's emissions 2030 reduction target under the Paris Agreement from 26 to 28 per cent to 43 per cent. (Reuters: Jason Lee)
The federal government moved quickly after winning the May election to step up Australia's climate action.
Australia's emissions 2030 reduction target under the Paris Agreement was increased from 26 to 28 per cent to 43 per cent commitment.
The federal government has also outlined a plan to decarbonise the electricity grid and a range of other initiatives to accelerate the development of clean energy alternatives.
Mr Albanese will use the speech to promote the climate plans before heading to Fiji later in the day.
"I look forward to attending the Pacific Islands Forum, where I will discuss our proposal to co-host a UN climate summit with our Pacific partners, to elevate and prioritise issues which impact our region the most," a draft of his speech reads.
"Australia will once again be a trusted global partner on climate action.
"I am ambitious about what we can achieve together."
The next UN climate talks, known as COP27, will be hosted by Egypt, with its representative Mahmoud Mohieldin to deliver a speech to the Sydney Energy Forum.
The energy ministers of Quad partners Japan, India and the United States will also address the forum, as well as Indonesia's energy minister.
Mr Albanese is also expected to spruik Australia's potential to develop critical minerals needed in solar panels and batteries.
"We have an abundance of the rare earths and critical minerals that will underpin new energy economies — such as aluminium, lithium, copper, cobalt and nickel."
"Australia is eager and ready to do our part."