Wealthy countries’ climate shift leaves Australia isolated from closest allies
While the G7 calls for a ‘green revolution’ to deal with an ‘existential crisis’, it is no clearer if Scott Morrison will formally embrace a net zero target
In an Australian context, the climate message from the weekend G7 summit is clear: the world’s biggest and richest democracies are acknowledging what the science demands and pledging to act in a way they haven’t before. The contrast with the debate in Canberra is growing.
The commitments from the G7 have come later than they should have. Activists are understandably sceptical about whether their actions will rise to meet the leaders’ words, and critical of the failure to announce long-promised climate funding to help developing countries. Caution ahead of the major UN summit in Glasgow in November, known as Cop26, is justified and necessary.
Related: Michael McCormack says coal here to stay as G7 countries commit to decarbonised power by the 2030s
Related: Scott Morrison inks G7 deals with Japan and Germany to develop lower-emissions technology
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