Leaders of emissions giants China and India have elected not to attend, but United States President Joe Biden and – after trenchant domestic criticism – the United Kingdom’s Rishi Sunak will be at the talks.

Sunak’s absence from the talks would have been particularly pronounced given that the UK still holds the COP presidency until it hands over the role to Egypt at the summit. A key achievement of Biden’s first term has been the passage of that nation’s largest over climate package.

Tong said he had enjoyed fruitful climate talks with Bowen during a recent visit to Australia and welcomed the government’s renewed focus on climate, including its decision to increase national reduction targets to 43 per cent by 2030.

But he reiterated the position of Pacific island nations, who want Australia to not only reduce its own emissions but commit to reducing coal exports and end the development of new fossil fuel projects.

An Egyptian official, who was not authorised to speak publicly, said Albanese should also reconsider given Australia already has a poor reputation internationally on climate change.