Albanese asks COP31 to fund Pacific climate fund as critics point to fossil fuels
The prime minister sought backing for the Pacific Resilience Facility in Türkiye, but critics said his speech never mentioned fossil fuels.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has used the COP31 climate summit in Türkiye to ask other countries to pay for climate adaptation in the Pacific, SBS News and The Australia Today reported. Climate activists and politicians criticised him for not mentioning fossil fuels in his address, SBS News reported.
SBS News said Albanese spoke on Wednesday at the opening of the two-day World Leaders Climate Action Summit segment of the UN event. Australia will lead negotiations at the talks. "We sought this role because we wanted to speak for the people of the world who need urgent action, including those from our Pacific family," he said. He asked nations to support the Pacific Resilience Facility, which was launched in 2025 to raise US$500 million ($726 million) for climate and adaptation projects, according to SBS.
Independent senator David Pocock told SBS News the omission of fossil fuels showed "how captured the major parties are by the fossil fuel industry". He said the Albanese government had approved 38 new fossil fuel projects or extensions since taking office, and that this was "not compatible with a livable Pacific". He described Australia as the world's third biggest fossil fuel exporter.
Marshall Islands President Hilda Heine told the summit that "every new oil well drilled, every new piece of coal extracted is a threat to my country's future." Outgoing UN secretary-general António Guterres called for an end to new coal, oil and gas infrastructure. Former Greens leader Adam Bandt, attending as chief executive of the Australian Conservation Foundation, called Guterres' remarks "a very significant intervention" and said Australia was being "called out".
The Australia Today reported that on Friday in Antalya, Albanese was joined by Pacific leaders including Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr as he urged governments, financial institutions and private investors to back the facility. He said it had drawn contributions from 23 investors. Australia is a founding contributor. "This is the entry fee for credibility in the Pacific," Albanese said, adding that the existence of Kiribati and Tuvalu was threatened.
Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen said Pacific countries received only 0.2 per cent of global climate finance for adaptation. He pointed to commitments from Denmark, the Netherlands, Ireland and the United Kingdom. He also said the Asian Development Bank and the Green Climate Fund had announced a $1 billion regional programme covering 14 countries, and the fund was opening its first regional office in Fiji.
Whipps said the facility would offer grants so island nations did not take on more debt. He compared it to a ship damaging a canoe and then offering the owner a loan for repairs. He said Pacific countries, Australia and New Zealand had contributed about 100 million, with pledges at COP31 reaching 200 million. "We need to get to 500 million," he said. The Australia Today said that amount is needed for the facility to become fully operational and start delivering grants to communities.
Sources: SBS News, Facing fossil fuel criticism, Albanese urges world not to overlook Pacific climate plight; The Australia Today, Prime Minister Albanese urges global partners to back Pacific-led climate fund at COP31.
