The Abbott government has confirmed it will snub the United Nations Green Climate Fund to assist developing nations cope with global warming, absenting Australia from the fund's first pledging conference.
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The fund hopes to reach its initial goal of raising $US10 billion ($11.4 billion) at a conference at Berlin on Thursday. During the past weekend's G20 summit, US President Barack Obama promised the US would contribute $US3 billion, while Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe confirmed $US1.5 billion from his nation.
A spokesman for the fund said Australia would not attend the conference in Berlin. "For the time being, Australia will not be participating," he said.
The government defended its absence from a fund which an Australian official, acting head of Ausaid Ewen McDonald, had helped establish more than a year ago. Mr McDonald was a founding co-chair of the fund's board.
"Australia is playing its part in an effective international response to climate change through direct national action, international engagement, and through our aid program," a spokesman for Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said.
"Australia is not planning to make a contribution to the Green Climate Fund at this time, but will continue to prioritise assistance through our development program," he said, adding that such efforts included helping poorer nations "build resilience to climate-related shocks".
'Embarrassment'
The Green Climate Fund was reportedly one of the most contentious issues being debated among the leaders at the G20, with Australia resisting its inclusion in the meeting's final communique.
In the end, the reference to the fund was included without any commitment: "We reaffirm our support for mobilising finance for adaptation and mitigation, such as the Green Climate Fund."
On Monday, the government was embarrassed when Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper, a climate change sceptic, said Canada would make a commitment to the fund.
"Canada will be represented by an official" at the Berlin meeting, the spokesman for the fund said.
Labor and the Greens attacked the Abbott government's decision.
"It's sadly not surprising that Tony Abbott won't send anyone to Berlin," Mark Butler, Labor's climate change spokesman, said. "He is an international embarrassment on climate change."
"Even Tony Abbott's friend, Stephen Harper, has pledged to the Green [Climate] Fund," Mr Butler said. "Tony Abbott is all alone in his stance on climate change. World leaders and Australians want him to do more."
Greens leader Senator Christine Milne said the funds was essential to securing a global agreement at next year's climate summit in Paris.
"Australia's ongoing opposition and stonewalling is nothing short of sabotage," Senator Milne said.
"Mere days after the G20 summit wrapped up, with its communique in support of the GCF, Prime Minister Abbott has gone into retreat," Senator Milne said.
"World leaders will conclude Australia is a write off, when it won't even pull up a chair, let alone take the necessary action to stop global warming," she said.
The fund, based in South Korea, has attracted about $US7.5 billion in funds so far, with nations such as the Netherlands among those contributing.
It aims to help developing nations both cut back on their greenhouse gas emissions but also to cope with the increasing incidence of extreme weather, including storm surges and heatwaves.
