COP26 President heads to Australia to build momentum on climate action

COP26 President Alok Sharma is currently travelling through Australia, visiting Sydney and Canberra, to meet the new government for the first time.

While there he is expected to try to build momentum for climate action and encourage the delivery of the Glasgow Climate Pact ahead of COP27, which will take place in November.

Mr Sharma will be discussing how Australia could become an international climate leader in several areas, including climate finance and zero-emission vehicles.

He will also be talking to banks, businesses and civil society groups in favour of bolder action to tackle the climate crisis, as Australia has previously lacked ambition in its climate targets.

Mr Sharma said: ‘Australia is turning a fresh page with its climate commitments and I look forward to working with the new Australian government on its path towards increased commitments and leadership in crucial areas such as climate finance, deforestation and support for less developed nations in the Indo-Pacific.

‘The “Powering Australia Plan’’ is an innovative centrepiece of the new government’s clean energy and industrial decarbonisation policy and paves the country’s path to net-zero by 2050 and increasing its clean energy capacity.

‘During my time in Australia I will meet Indigenous representatives, business leaders, government ministers and more, providing a great opportunity to discuss ways we can work together for effective climate action.’

Ngunnawal Indigenous leaders in Canberra will be talking to Mr Sharma about the impacts of the climate crisis on Australia, nature-based solutions and their traditional land management practices.

UK High Commissioner to Australia, Vicki Treadell, said: ‘We’re delighted to welcome Alok Sharma to Australia where he’ll hear first-hand how the region is impacted by the climate emergency.

‘We know that the Glasgow Climate Pact was a historic collective achievement, keeping 1.5C alive. Now is the time to deliver on those commitments. This visit by the COP President to Australia and Fiji outlines how important the Indo Pacific is to tackling climate change within the decade.

‘Following the COP President’s visit to Australia, he will travel on to Fiji, a climate leader in the Pacific region. Like other Pacific countries, Fiji is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

‘The UK is focussed on working with Fiji and Pacific countries to keep adaptation, loss and damage and climate finance on the top of the agenda in the lead up to and at COP27 in Egypt.’

Photo by William Gibson