Australian Climate Minister Greg Combet comments on confidence

Australia has joined the chorus of pessimists talking down the potential of climate talks in Cancun, conceding they will likely revive a stale debate.

Climate Change Minister Greg Combet heads to Mexico next week for what is the United Nation’s first major climate change talks since the failed Copenhagen summit.

But like many commentators, his expectations are low that a global agreement can be reached.

Instead, Mr Combet believes Cancun will have an important part to play in restoring international confidence and renewing the global “appetite” for action.

Post-Copenhagen, the outlook has become decidedly less buoyant and optimistic than it once was, he is due to say in a speech to Canberra’s Crawford School Forum.

“The contribution that the Cancun conference can make towards this end (an agreement), are not particularly high,” he will say today.

“It is imperative that we use the opportunity that Cancun offers to re-emphasise objectives rather than processes.”

Some countries have prioritized tactics over substance and outcomes, but that will not be the approach of the Australian delegation, Mr Combet promised.

“We need to engender confidence … in truth, we have no other option.

“The international community cannot afford to allow inaction to become a habit, because that only postpones the inevitable.”

Read the rest of the article at The Australian.

Tags: Australasia, Australia, Cancun Climate Talks

Category: Voices