From the Guardian · · 1m 50s
Australia's Pacific climate summit struggles to draw world leaders
Only two non-Pacific leaders accepted Australia's invitation to a preparatory climate meeting in Fiji ahead of the year-ending Cop31 summit in Turkey.
In brief
Only two non-Pacific leaders accepted Australia's invitation to a preparatory climate meeting in Fiji ahead of the year-ending Cop31 summit in Turkey. Australia's pre-Cop31 meeting in Fiji drew only fourteen national leaders, with just two from outside the Pacific, disappointing efforts to highlight climate threats to…
Albanese arrives for Pacific climate meeting
Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese landed in Fiji on Monday to attend a preparatory meeting for the year-ending Cop31 UN climate summit in Turkey.
Pre-Cop31 meeting draws four thousand people
About four thousand people gathered in Nadi, Fiji for the preparatory meeting. It was held in the Pacific to highlight the climate crisis facing island nations most at risk.
Only fourteen leaders accept Tuvalu invitation
Australia invited national leaders to visit Tuvalu on Tuesday, but distance and competing priorities made the trip difficult. Only fourteen leaders committed to attending.
Just two leaders from outside the Pacific
Of the fourteen leaders attending, only two travelled from beyond the Pacific: Timor-Leste's José Ramos-Horta and Mauritius' Dharam Gokhool. The turnout disappointed organisers.
Albanese defends Pacific climate focus
Albanese said it was important that Pacific voices were heard because the Pacific is the frontline of climate action. For many nations, climate change is literally a threat to their existence.
“It is important that Pacific voices are heard, because the Pacific is the frontline of action on climate change.”
Opposition calls summit a farce
Australian opposition energy and emissions reduction spokesperson Dan Tehan said the low attendance showed the Fiji conference was a waste of taxpayers' money and a farce.
Fiji aims to keep one point five degrees alive
Fiji's environment minister Lynda Tabuya said the country's aim this week and at Cop31 was to keep the goal of limiting global heating to one point five degrees Celsius within reach.
The one thing
Australia's pre-Cop31 meeting in Fiji drew only fourteen national leaders, with just two from outside the Pacific, disappointing efforts to highlight climate threats to island nations.
