No avoiding the cost of inaction on climate, Anthony Albanese says in New York
News Source
β’Mon, 21 Sep 2026 17:00:46 GMT
π° What Happened
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese spoke at the opening of Climate Week at the United Nations in New York on Monday. He said Australians know the damage of global warming as well as anyone. He pointed to the bushfires and floods of recent decades.
"There's no avoiding the scale of our responsibility - or the cost of inaction," he told the meeting. He said politicians now need to match the bravery ordinary people showed during those disasters.
Albanese said his government's target is to cut emissions by 62 to 70 per cent on 2005 levels by 2035. He said renewable power backed by gas will get Australia there. The speech came just before the UN General Assembly.
π The Backstory
Australia is one of the world's biggest exporters of liquefied natural gas. Gas exports have kept rising even as the country promises deeper cuts at home. Critics say selling so much gas works against its climate goals.
Albanese noted that Australians are installing about 10,000 home batteries a week, more than half a million in the past year. He said Australia is now a leader in home battery uptake.
He also spoke about the Pacific. Australia gave A$100 million to the Pacific Resilience Facility and A$350 million for climate-proof infrastructure. He said Pacific nations will not face the crisis alone, after island leaders spent years asking big emitters to do more.
π― Why It Matters
Australia's choices matter far beyond its own borders. It is a rich country that both suffers from and feeds the climate crisis, so its promises are watched closely.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese spoke at the opening of Climate Week at the United Nations in New York on Monday. He said Australians know the damage of global warming as well as anyone. He pointed to the bushfires and floods of recent decades.
"There's no avoiding the scale of our responsibility - or the cost of inaction," he told the meeting. He said politicians now need to match the bravery ordinary people showed during those disasters.
Albanese said his government's target is to cut emissions by 62 to 70 per cent on 2005 levels by 2035. He said renewable power backed by gas will get Australia there. The speech came just before the UN General Assembly.
Australia is one of the world's biggest exporters of liquefied natural gas. Gas exports have kept rising even as the country promises deeper cuts at home. Critics say selling so much gas works against its climate goals.
Albanese noted that Australians are installing about 10,000 home batteries a week, more than half a million in the past year. He said Australia is now a leader in home battery uptake.
He also spoke about the Pacific. Australia gave A$100 million to the Pacific Resilience Facility and A$350 million for climate-proof infrastructure. He said Pacific nations will not face the crisis alone, after island leaders spent years asking big emitters to do more.
Australia's choices matter far beyond its own borders. It is a rich country that both suffers from and feeds the climate crisis, so its promises are watched closely.