Two years on: Abbott government has failed our Pacific island neighbours on global warming
With the Pacific Islands Forum leaders' summit on this week, the Australian Greens are urging the Abbott Government to finally show some regional leadership by acting on global warming and reinstating climate adaptation funding cut from aid.
Senator Larissa Waters, Australian Greens Deputy Leader and climate change spokesperson, said:
"Our Pacific neighbours know all too well that coal is not good for humanity.
"Entire nations in our region are at risk of being completely inundated and yet the Abbott Government's plan will keep Australia as the world's biggest climate polluter per capita.
"The Abbott Government has completely cut all of the climate change adaptation programs from the aid budget, which is absolutely unforgiveable and must be reversed.
"Tony Abbott should feel ashamed when he attends the summit this week - our Pacific neighbours want Australia to be a leader, not a laggard, on climate action," Senator Waters said.
Australian Greens international aid and development spokesperson, Senator Lee Rhiannon, said:
"Climate change is the greatest obstacle to reducing poverty and inequality, yet the Abbott government in just two years in office has defunded all environment projects that were part of the foreign aid budget.
"Considering the impact climate change is already having on Pacific nations, the Abbott Government should adopt the recommendations of the Australian Council for International Development on this issue.
"The Australian Council for International Development is calling on Australia to increase its contribution to climate finance by at least $400 million per year from 2016/17. This should not be at the expense of funding towards poverty alleviation programs.
"The Abbott Government's failure to act on the threat climate change poses to our Pacific neighbours is another defining feature of this cruel government and a further reminder that the sooner the Coalition is booted out of office, the better it will be for the rest of the world and Australia.