On Monday I will be flying to Glasgow to represent Labor at the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference.
I will be engaging with other delegates and stakeholders to hear about the climate action their nations are taking and discussing the positive policies Labor has already developed.
The outcomes of COP26 will be fundamental in finalising the rest of Labor’s policies and setting our medium-term emissions targets.
Decisions made at this conference will have a profound impact upon Australia and upon our region especially.
Carbon intensive regions like ours must be at the forefront of considerations, so I am proud to not only be representing Labor, but also the Hunter in Glasgow.
The Prime Minister has already damaged Australia’s reputation leading into COP26 by refusing to take a stronger medium-term target to the conference.
It’s important to note that of the 20 per cent in emissions reductions that have already been achieved in Australia, 14 percentage points occurred under the last Labor Government, and five of the remaining six percentage points were due to Labor’s Renewable Energy Target which this Government has repeatedly tried to abolish.
Scott Morrison has completely undermined our nation’s standing on the world stage when it comes to taking real climate action by letting the laggards in the Morrison-Joyce Government dictate their policy.
Labor understands that taking strong action is not only good for the environment but good for our economy.
I look forward to representing Labor and the Hunter region at COP26.