Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says Australia remains committed to the Paris climate accord despite the US’s withdrawal from the deal and pressure from some of his backbenchers to rethink supporting it.
“We are committed to our Paris commitments, our 2030 commitments of 26-28 per cent reduction in emissions (on 2005 levels),” Mr Turnbull told reporters in Singapore on Friday.
The Prime Minister said US President Donald Trump’s decision to pull out of the 2015 deal - joining just two other countries that are not party to the pact - was expected.
What is the Paris Climate Agreement?
“His announcement today from our point of view is disappointing but not at all surprising it was entirely as predicted,” Mr Turnbull said.
He’s also rejected calls from conservative Liberal backbenchers Eric Abetz and Craig Kelly for the government to reconsider its commitment to the agreement without the US.
Mr Kelly believes it’s a good decision for the US, as the agreement did “very little for the environment”.
Senator Abetz is also concerned about the impact on jobs and families and says the government’s climate change review paper should examine the impact of the US’s withdrawal from the pact.
“I have long said that should countries like the United States, China or India withdraw their support or fail to live up to the non-binding targets, Australia should similarly pull back to allow for an increased focus on supporting families and jobs in Australia,” he said.
Mr Turnbull has rejected any calls for a delay to a paper reviewing the national electricity sector, which will be presented to the Council of Australian Governments meeting in a week.
“Governments will respond to it, so it is on track to be presented,” he said.
The Paris commitments were in Australia’s interests, he added.
“We are committed to ensuring that Australians have affordable and reliable energy and that we meet our emission reduction targets,” Mr Turnbull said.
“There is a massive national and global interest in achieving that and maintaining energy.”
Australian Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young expressed her disappointment in the US's decision.
But One Nation climate sceptic Malcolm Roberts was pleased.
