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https://theconversation.com/trusted-partner-to-the-pacific-or-giant-fossil-fuel-exporter-this-week-australia-chose-the-latter-245268>
"Australia has long tried to be two things at once – a trusted friend to
Pacific nations in a bid to reduce China’s influence, and a giant exporter of
fossil fuels. This diplomatic tightrope has become increasingly hard to walk,
as Pacific nations see climate change as an existential threat.
This week, Australia’s government was forced to make a choice in a very public
forum. It chose fossil fuels.
Disappointed by the slow pace of United Nations climate talks, Vanuatu and
other Pacific nations launched a case at the International Court of Justice in
the Netherlands to clarify the obligations countries have to prevent harm to
the Earth’s climate system for current and future generations.
While international climate negotiations are often conducted behind closed
doors, this case is being broadcast in public. We can clearly see the arguments
Australia has laid out and the countries it has aligned itself with.
In the courtroom on Monday, Australia sided with major emitters and fossil fuel
exporters such as Saudi Arabia, the United States and China to try and minimise
their legal liability in contributing to climate change."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
