The Times Australia
The Times World News

.
Times Media

.

Will Australia’s new climate policy be enough to reset relations with Pacific nations?

  • Written by Wesley Morgan, Research Fellow, Griffith Asia Institute, Griffith University
Will Australia’s new climate policy be enough to reset relations with Pacific nations?

Prime minister Anthony Albanese is hoping his government’s more ambitious climate policy will help reset Pacific relations when he meets with island leaders next week.

Hosted by Fiji, this year’s Pacific Islands Forum will be the first in-person leaders summit since the 2019 Pacific Islands Forum in Tuvalu, which saw his predecessor Scott Morrison trying to water down[1] a Pacific regional climate declaration. In the aftermath of that bruising summit, Fijian prime minister Frank Bainimarama told waiting media[2] partnering with China was preferable to working with Morrison.

Since then, geostrategic competition between China and the United States has intensified. This contest looms over this year’s Pacific Islands Forum. China is seeking new security arrangements with island countries, while the US and its allies are stepping up their engagement with Pacific nations.

But while Australia worries about China, most Pacific nations are more worried about climate change on their doorstep. A new Climate Council report[3] endorsed by a group of prominent Pacific leaders says committing to more ambitious climate action is key to Australia’s claim to be the Pacific’s security partner of choice.

pacific leaders 2019
The last in-person Pacific Islands Forum in 2019 was a testy affair. Mick Tsikas/AAP

Security will be high on the agenda

Why is security suddenly important? Because the Pacific has become a region of geostrategic competition for the first time in decades.

China has become more powerful. That’s seen it invest in an ocean-going navy and seek new security arrangements with Pacific countries. Australian security officials have been particularly worried Beijing could use infrastructure loans to secure a Chinese naval base in the Pacific.

In April, Solomon Islands signed a security deal with China which – if it is anything like the draft leaked online[4] – contains provisions that allow for Chinese military presence and ship resupply.

The deal has changed the dynamic of a region long aligned with the West (notwithstanding Pacific concerns about decolonisation and the impact of nuclear testing).

solomon islands prime minister china Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare at a 2019 ceremony in Beijing. Thomas Peter/AP

While Solomon Islands leaders say they have no intention of allowing a Chinese base or an ongoing security presence in the country, concerns remain.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong – who meets with Pacific foreign ministers today to iron out the final agenda for the Forum meeting – wants leaders to discuss the controversial security deal. She says Pacific security should be a matter for the “Pacific family[5]”.

Read more: Glasgow showdown: Pacific Islands demand global leaders bring action, not excuses, to UN summit[6]

In May, China’s foreign minister Wang Yi toured the Pacific hoping to secure a regional security deal with island countries. The proposal was politely declined[7] by island leaders, who explained there was no regional consensus on the deal. Undeterred, Wang Yi proposed[8] a meeting with Pacific foreign ministers next week, on exactly the same day Albanese meets island leaders at the Pacific Islands Forum.

Tackling the region’s key threat: climate change

Pacific island leaders argue growing tension between the US and China does little to address climate change[9], which they are adamant is the region’s single greatest threat[10].

For decades, Pacific leaders have called for recognition that climate change is a threat to their nations akin to war. During the first UN Security Council debate on climate change in 2007, Pacific Islands Forum countries argued[11] the impacts of a warming planet for island nations were “no less serious than those faced by nations and peoples threatened by guns and bombs”.

In June this year, Fiji’s defence minister Inia Seruiratu told a regional security dialogue[12] that

machine guns, fighter jets, grey ships and green battalions are not our primary security concern. Waves are crashing at our doorsteps, winds are battering our homes, we are being assaulted by this enemy from many angles.

Today’s report from the Climate Council[13] backs what island leaders are saying: climate change is the single greatest threat to the region.

low lying village Pacific Climate change is an ever-present threat to Pacific nations. Shutterstock

If the world is to have a reasonable chance of achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement, and ensuring the survival of all Pacific island countries, global emissions must be halved by 2030. A wealthy country like Australia, with high emissions and vast untapped renewable resources should be aiming to reduce emissions to 75% below 2005 levels by 2030, according to the report.

Optimism and wariness

Australia’s new climate policies have been met by Pacific island countries with a mixture of optimism[14] and wariness[15].

Albanese has pledged to cut emissions by 43% by 2030. While this brings Australia closer to the rest of the developed world, this target by no means leads the pack. Most other developed countries have promised to cut emissions by at least 50% this decade. Labor’s 43% cut should be the floor for Australia’s ambition, not a ceiling.

The new Australian government wants to co-host the annual UN climate summit with Pacific island countries, potentially as soon as 2024. While this is a positive sign, Australia cannot assume Pacific leaders will automatically support it.

Pacific island countries want to see Australia doing more to move beyond coal and gas and committing new finance to help island countries to deal with the growing impacts of climate change (including unavoidable loss and damage).

Albanese will have the chance to hear Pacific concerns in Suva next week. It will be the start of an ongoing conversation. If the Australian government listens carefully, and takes meaningful action on climate, it will strengthen its claim to be the Pacific’s security partner of choice.

Read more: In the wake of the China-Solomon Islands pact, Australia needs to rethink its Pacific relationships[16]

References

  1. ^ trying to water down (www.afr.com)
  2. ^ told waiting media (www.theguardian.com)
  3. ^ new Climate Council report (www.climatecouncil.org.au)
  4. ^ draft leaked online (www.theguardian.com)
  5. ^ Pacific family (www.rnz.co.nz)
  6. ^ Glasgow showdown: Pacific Islands demand global leaders bring action, not excuses, to UN summit (theconversation.com)
  7. ^ was politely declined (www.abc.net.au)
  8. ^ proposed (www.abc.net.au)
  9. ^ address climate change (www.theguardian.com)
  10. ^ single greatest threat (www.lowyinstitute.org)
  11. ^ argued (blogs.griffith.edu.au)
  12. ^ told a regional security dialogue (au.news.yahoo.com)
  13. ^ report from the Climate Council (www.climatecouncil.org.au)
  14. ^ optimism (www.sbs.com.au)
  15. ^ wariness (www.theguardian.com)
  16. ^ In the wake of the China-Solomon Islands pact, Australia needs to rethink its Pacific relationships (theconversation.com)

Read more https://theconversation.com/will-australias-new-climate-policy-be-enough-to-reset-relations-with-pacific-nations-184833

The Times Features

Will the Wage Price Index growth ease financial pressure for households?

The Wage Price Index’s quarterly increase of 0.8% has been met with mixed reactions. While Australian wages continue to increase, it was the smallest increase in two and a half...

Back-to-School Worries? 70% of Parents Fear Their Kids Aren’t Ready for Day On

Australian parents find themselves confronting a key decision: should they hold back their child on the age border for another year before starting school? Recent research from...

Democratising Property Investment: How MezFi is Opening Doors for Everyday Retail Investors

The launch of MezFi today [Friday 15th November] marks a watershed moment in Australian investment history – not just because we're introducing something entirely new, but becaus...

Game of Influence: How Cricket is Losing Its Global Credibility

be losing its credibility on the global stage. As other sports continue to capture global audiences and inspire unity, cricket finds itself increasingly embroiled in political ...

Amazon Australia and DoorDash announce two-year DashPass offer only for Prime members

New and existing Prime members in Australia can enjoy a two-year membership to DashPass for free, and gain access to AU$0 delivery fees on eligible DoorDash orders New offer co...

6 things to do if your child’s weight is beyond the ideal range – and 1 thing to avoid

One of the more significant challenges we face as parents is making sure our kids are growing at a healthy rate. To manage this, we take them for regular check-ups with our GP...

Times Magazine

Understanding Different Types of Child Care

In New South Wales, Australia, parents are faced with a myriad of choices when it comes to child care. From long daycare centres to family daycares, preschools, and occasional care services, each option offers its own set of benefits and considerat...

Sell You Car and Help the Environment while Receiving Top Cash in Brisbane

Are you tired of the high costs of maintaining a car? Do you want to do your part to protect the environment? One solution could be to sell your car to a car removal company and receive top cash in return. Cars contribute significantly to air po...

Full function: how to get the most out of your conveyor belt

There’s no denying it: you need to look after your conveyor belt to ensure its proper function! Proper maintenance will ensure its longevity, as well as save you money on future repairs. With this in mind, here are five imperative tips for getti...

6 Top Software Development Services Providers in Australia (2024)

In 2024, the demand for cutting-edge software development services in Australia is surging. But finding the right service provider can be quite challenging. Just imagine investing time and resources into a project only to face delays, subpar qua...

Transformation of imagination into reality

Captivating Visual arts In relation to the visual arts which are ever evolving, there has been one entity that has been highly successful with respect to stealing the spotlight. This theft has occurred through the utilization of the medium's mes...

What are the Top Skills You Learn in Certificate 3 in Hairdressing Online Programs?

There are many skills that you can acquire when you use the right courses for your growth. Now, speaking of TMICE: Flexible Certificate 3 in Hairdressing Online Programs, these can ensure you have manifold skills in this direction. You would get ...