Australia Insists It Shares "The Same Ambitions" On Climate Policy As Newly Minted OECD Head Hack
Marise Payne insists the Morrison government shares “the same ambitions” as the incoming OECD chief, Mathias Cormann, for a green recovery from the pandemic. The foreign minister made the claim despite the government’s promotion of a gas-fired recovery and despite research showing Australia was the worst performer among the world’s 50 largest economies for “green recovery” spending to kickstart economic growth.
Payne on Thursday faced a range of questions about the language embraced by Cormann, the former Coalition finance minister, during his successful campaign to become the next secretary general of the Paris-based OECD.
During a Senate estimates hearing, the Labor senator, Tim Ayres, pointed to Cormann’s backing of “an inclusive and future-focused recovery, including a green recovery” and “accelerating the transition to a lower emissions future”.
EDIT
To date, the Australian government has not formally committed to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, even as a range of allies and trading partners embrace the goal. Asked if she welcomed the Biden administration’s adoption of a commitment to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, Payne said: “We welcome the Biden administration’s engagement on all of these issues.”
EDIT
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/mar/25/australian-government-insists-it-shares-same-ambitions-as-mathias-cormann-for-green-recovery