“I have to focus on things here and with COVID. Australia will be opening up around that time,there will be a lot of issues to manage and I have to manage those competing demands.”
Energy and Emissions Reduction Minister Angus Taylor has confirmed he will attend,but not Foreign Minister Marise Payne.
“It’s not a no-show at the conference. Australia will be strongly represented at the conference,no matter by which senior Australian representative,” she told ABC Radio.
“One thing we are absolutely committed to is setting out our long-term emissions reduction plan prior to the COP and that is what we are focused on as a government.”
This is true,but the importance of COP26 to the world,and to Australia’s key allies cannot be overstated.
The talks are seen as the last chance for the world to come to an agreement on emission reductions that may put it on track to hold warming to 1.5 degrees,after which scientists fear tipping points may be triggered that could lead to the climate spiralling out of control.
At present about 100 world leaders are expected to attend the talks,and the schedule has been structured specifically to make it easier for leaders of major economies to do so.