‘Absolutely come’:Billionaire ‘Twiggy’ Forrest calls on Xi Jinping to attend climate summit

London: Billionaire mining magnate Andrew Forrest is urging China to come to the Glasgow climate summit,arguing the world’s largest polluter should “show off” its potential to achieve net zero emissions much sooner than its goal of 2060.

In an interview ahead of next month’s talks,Australia’s richest man also warned against including nuclear energy in any new federal government climate policy and accused politicians of perpetrating a “cruel” hoax on voters by resisting an impending tsunami of clean energy projects.

“Don’t overplay your time in the limelight,” Forrest told Nationals MPs opposed to apackage of measures being debated by Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s cabinet.

Fortescue Metals Group chairman Andrew Forrest in London ahead of the COP26 summit.

Fortescue Metals Group chairman Andrew Forrest in London ahead of the COP26 summit.Domenico Pugliese

“It is time to allow your electors a choice. Denying them a choice between a green future,as opposed to an old,polluting one,will be seen for what it is:grandstanding.”

The Fortescue Metals Group chairman,who has an estimated net wealth of $27.2 billion,has spent most of 2021 travelling the world to spruik thetransformation of his mining empire into a huge provider of green hydrogen.

He will be based in London for the rest of October before attending the Glasgow summit. Newspapers,billboards,electric buses and taxis in the British capital and conference host city will be covered in branding for Fortescue Future Industries,Forrest’s green hydrogen company.

“I’d compare green hydrogen to the beginning of the Industrial Revolution where everything changed. And I see this legitimately as the next great industrial revolution,but this one is entirely pollution free.”

A brief history of climate science and global climate negotiations. By Tom Compagnoni.

Forrest,whose business dealings with China have at times made him a bridge between the West and Beijing,said the Glasgow talks would commence “a little on the backfoot” on November 1 becauseseveral leaders such as Chinese President Xi Jinping weren’t listed to attend,although he is dispatching negotiators.

China is responsible for 27 per cent of global emissions – more than all the world’s developed nations combined.

The absence of such a key piece of the international climate puzzle is one of several factors behind growing fears that the summit will fail.

“If I counselled him,I would say absolutely come,” Forrest said of Xi. “And I’d also say you should be vocal about the achievements your country has made. Your country is leading in the renewable sector. You’ve made enormous investments and I would put that on show.”

Forrest said China would achieve carbon neutrality before its formal policy of 2060.

“From what I see happening in China – particularly among the younger generation – there’s a very strong will to have carbon-neutral power and a wonderment as to why it’s not being done quicker.

“And one thing which the Chinese government is incredibly good at doing is listening to the mood of its people. And I can say the mood of the Chinese people that I have heard is that they’re impatient and they’re wanting a sustainable future.”

Andrew Forrest will advocate for green hydrogen at the climate summit.

Andrew Forrest will advocate for green hydrogen at the climate summit.Domenico Pugliese

Morrison will attend the Glasgow summit but is still negotiating with junior Coalition partner the Nationals over the shape of the federal government’s new climate policy. Morrison and Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce this week ruled out seeking a 45 per cent cut to emissions by 2030.

“I’m not sure why we wouldn’t increase that target,” Forrest said.

The businessman said an unwillingness to boost the existing 2030 goal of a 26 to 28 per cent cut risked denying “huge economic opportunities” to regional towns and cities where green hydrogen production and other renewables would be built.

“I worry for those politicians who are struggling with the change,who keep on harping on with the same fear-mongering,” Forrest said.

“When you look at it deeply,they’re actually quite cruel. What they’re saying is,‘please vote for me even though I am totally misinforming you’.”

Australia’s new climate target will be decided by federal cabinet without legislation in Parliament,meaning rebels will not be able to block it.

However,some Nationals MPs are pushing for a collection of sweeteners which might include some sort of commitment to explore the potential of small modular nuclear reactors.

Asked whether nuclear should be in Australia’s energy mix,Forrest described the technology as expensive and a security risk.

“It’s one of the better solutions,but it creates a dangerous world,” he said.

“I’ve never seen a process flow sheet involving either waste fuel from a reactor or from raw uranium that doesn’t involve getting the energy to a level where it could be taken and enriched to weapons grade. I don’t want to leave the world cleaner if it’s dangerous.”

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Bevan Shields is the Editor of The Sydney Morning Herald.

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