“In those days I used to think of Australia’s climate change diplomacy as highly un-human – in other words, it had no Pacific human face in it,” he writes. “Sadly, it is still the same today.”

“I used to think of Australia’s climate change diplomacy as highly un-human”

Bikenibeu Paeniu

The report alleges that as far back as the Howard government, Australia sought to weaken climate language in communiques at regional forums, and that in Pacific Islands Forum meetings in 2015, 2016 and 2019, it again attempted to use its power and its aid money to block regional consensus on emissions reduction.

It alleges that in 2019, the Australian government tried to change the first clause of the Boe Declaration on Regional Security, which was signed in the Boe region of Nauru in 2018. The Greenpeace report alleges Australia objected to the wording that “climate change remains the single greatest threat to the livelihoods, security and wellbeing of the peoples of the Pacific”.

It further claims that Australia “greenwashes” its aid by claiming that general aid programs are related to climate efforts.

The report quotes former Labor Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Gareth Evans as saying that Australia’s “credibility in all sorts of ways depends on our being seen to be responsible, good international citizens and Australia is putting that reputation very much at risk on the climate front”.

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In a statement, a spokesperson from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said the Pacific Islands Forum operated on a basis of partnership and consensus, underpinned by “open and respectful” exchange of views between members.

Australia would continue to respect the confidentiality of forum meetings, including the annual leaders’ retreat, they said.

Australia was proud to join two declarations that called for urgent climate change action, which reaffirm climate change remains the single greatest threat to the peoples of the Pacific, they said.