Australia and UK make pact to partner on 2050 net-zero climate goal
UNB
Publish: 25 Oct 2024, 05:14 PM
APIA,
Samoa, Oct 25 (AP/UNB) - Australia and the United Kingdom have deepened ties by
agreeing to collaborate on climate change and energy initiatives, aiming to
reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, while also reaffirming their mutual
commitment to develop nuclear submarines for both nations under the AUKUS
treaty.
The Climate and Energy
Partnership was announced after talks between Australian Prime Minister Anthony
Albanese and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer on the sidelines of the
Commonwealth leaders meeting in Samoa on Friday.
The partnership focuses
on accelerating the development of renewable energy like green hydrogen and
offshore wind by sharing technology and innovation.
"This partnership
will ensure we maximize the economic potential of the net zero transition, and
build on our long-standing cooperation on international climate action and
shared commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2050," Albanese said in a
statement on Friday.
However, the statement
was short on specifics for implementing the agreement, and is likely to do
little to assuage the fears of several Pacific Island leaders, whose low-lying
island nations are at high risk of rising sea levels, and on Thursday called on
both countries to do more to tackle climate change.
The Commonwealth Heads
of Government Meeting (CHOGM), hosted by Samoan Prime Minister Fiamē Naomi
Mataʻafa, is expected to conclude with a strong statement on climate change,
ahead of the UN climate summit in November.
Security was another
theme of the first meeting between the left-leaning leaders since Starmer's
election victory in July, with defense, the war in Ukraine, the AUKUS security
partnership, and issues in the Indo-Pacific discussed according to the joint
statement released by the Prime Ministers.
"Together, we're
delivering better futures for our two countries, whether that's through
protecting our national security with projects like AUKUS or delivering on our
net zero commitments," said Starmer in a statement Friday.
King Charles III,
attending his first CHOGM as sovereign, is expected to address the gathering.
End/UNB/AP/SU