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Australia responds to PM’s plea

August 13, 2019 4:56 pm

Alex Hawk [facing camera] with Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama [right] [Source: ABC News]

The Australian government has replied to Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama’s plea saying they are making a transition from coal energy overtime.

Australia’s Minister for International Development and the Pacific, Alex Hawk has stated their climate solution package will see their dependence on coal reduce and they’re looking at various sources of renewable energy.

Yesterday, Bainimarama made a plea to Australia to cut down their reliance on coal energy and try to look for other renewable energy sources.

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Responding to this plea by Bainimarama, Hawk has guaranteed they are ready to listen.

“So very much we want to say to Fiji and all the members’ states that are here that Australia is listening on climate, we will be doing more and will be spending more through our package dealing with adaptation and the resilient needs of the Pacific”.

For Australia to reduce their heavy reliance on coal seems impossible, however, Hawk says work is in progress.

“And he called on us to make a transition, the Australian government is making a transition overtime, of course in our climate solution package you will see our dependence on coal reduces however quarter of our energy will be generated by renewables but importantly in the pacific and the money that will be spending, will also be spending on renewable energy projects through climate spending”.

Hawk has also revealed Australia’s plan of spending $500 million from 2020 over the next five years and the funds will be dedicated to focusing more on renewable energy, climate adaptation and climate resilience.

With Bainimarama and the Tuvaluan Prime Minister calling for one voice – Australia has opted for the bilateral approach saying every country has particular needs in terms of dealing with mitigation and climate adaptation.