Australia and Turkey will, unconventionally, share the “presidency” of the world’s biggest climate summit, COP31. While both present themselves as climate leaders, both are seeking to expand dangerous fossil fuels production.

COP31 will be held in Antalya, Turkey, from November 9-20. Turkey will be the “hosting president” and Australia the “negotiations president”.

Turkey is promoting a “net-zero by 2053” target, with the date marking the 600th anniversary of the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople. But the symbolism conceals a harder reality — Turkey’s own projections show emissions continuing to rise until 2038.

Australia has a legislated national target to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. But climate experts say a 75% cut is needed by 2035 to reach that goal. They also say Australia is dodging its global responsibility to the Paris Agreement by exporting its dangerous fossil fuel emissions, as the agreement does not count those emissions (known as Scope 3).

Since ratifying the 1997 Kyoto Protocol in 2007, Australia has kept its domestic emissions roughly flat — while multiplying its fossil fuel exports.

The Stop Adani campaign, among others, has highlighted the contradiction of governments both signing climate agreements and approving new coal and gas mines at the same time.

Australia may burn less coal, but the rest of the world burns what........

© Green Left Weekly