The Australian Labor government is pinning its hopes on climate change policy as the key to winning over Pacific nations amid increasing geopolitical competition with Beijing.
Top leaders have emphasised the Albanese government’s support of climate change action, including a higher emissions reduction target, as a key differentiator from the previous government.
On July 12, Defence Minister Richard Marles said the biggest concern he was hearing from the Pacific region was the threat of climate change.
“The Albanese government wants to make climate change a pillar of the [U.S.-Australia] alliance. Because it is clear climate change is a national security issue,” he told the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington D.C. during a four-day trip to the United States….