Donald Trump causes 'great uncertainty' at climate change conference, Frydenberg says
Updated
Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg has warned the policies of United States President-elect Donald Trump are causing "a great deal of uncertainty" at the United Nations (UN) climate change conference in Marrakesh.
Key points:
- More than 100 countries ratified the Paris climate change agreement
- US' position uncertain after Mr Trump vowed to cancel the agreement
- Mr Frydenberg said the US' actions have an impact on other countries' thinking
The Federal Government ratified the Paris climate change agreement last week despite concerns Mr Trump would withdraw support once in office.
Mr Trump vowed to cancel the Paris agreement in one of his first official speeches in May, claiming it would give foreign bureaucrats control of how much energy the United States uses.
Mr Frydenberg told the ABC the US had never backed out of a major international agreement once it had come into force.
"That's why people are slightly uncertain as to what the Trump administration will do because it will be so different from what previous American administrations have done," he said.
"But certainly, this is a global leader and what it does has an impact on other countries' thinking."
The Paris agreement came into force earlier this month and has been ratified by more than 100 countries and covers 70 per cent of global emissions.
Mr Frydenberg said the US would have a major impact on the international agreements given it was responsible for close to 16 per cent of global emissions.
"The United States is a global leader and what it does has a major impact on other country's thinking," Mr Frydenberg said.
"Everyone is waiting to see whether that momentum from Paris will continue even though Donald Trump will be coming into office with a very different position to the Obama administration."
The Marrakesh meeting comes as the World Meteorological Organisation released a report finding 2016 was set to be the hottest year on record.
The Paris agreement requires nations to submit climate change pledges every five years although they are not obliged to achieve them.
As president, Mr Trump would also be able to cancel the executive order used by President Barack Obama to bypass the Republican-controlled Senate.
Mr Frydenberg said Australia had been commended "publicly and privately" for deciding to ratify the agreement the day after the US presidential election.
"People understand that Australia is helping to drive really positive outcomes, particularly in the area of climate finance and helping to support developing nations," he said.
Pep Canadell, executive director of the Global Carbon Project at the CSIRO, believes the Marrakesh negotiations will test how committed countries are to achieving climate change goals.
Topics: us-elections, climate-change, environment, world-politics, government-and-politics, australia, united-states
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