Australia dodges fossil fuel talk at its own climate summit
Australia and Turkey have largely ignored fossil fuels at their own climate summit.
COP31, the climate summit co-hosted by Australia and Turkey, has avoided mentioning fossil fuels in its priority areas. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese did not mention them in his opening speech.
Environment Minister Chris Bowen mentioned fossil fuels twice but tied neither to a global phaseout. Turkey's environment minister did not mention them at all.
The summit's headline goal is 35-by-35: produce 35% of the world's energy from electricity by 2035. This would rely mainly on renewables.
Environmental groups, Pacific nations and Brazil have pushed hard for concrete plans to end coal, oil and gas. Australia is the world's third-largest exporter of fossil fuels, behind only Russia and the US.
Australia's total emissions account for close to 5% of global emissions.
- Australia third, behind Russia and US
- World's largest fossil fuel exporters
- Close to 5%
- Australia's share of global emissions
- 35% of world energy by 2035
- Electrification target
Why it mattersAvoiding the core issue means climate pledges may miss the biggest source of global emissions.
AustraliaAustralia faces mounting criticism for approving new fossil fuel projects while hosting a climate summit and pushing renewable targets.
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