MOSCOW, November 19 (Sputnik) – French President Francois Hollande discussed climate change and the need for a legally binding emissions deal in a joint press conference with Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott following a private discussion in Canberra on Wednesday.
“Of course, this is what we mean when we say a worldwide agreement – a global agreement – it has to be legally binding and it has to be differentiated and it has to have some link with the Green Fund,” Hollande said at the press conference. He added that France was already preparing for the international emissions reduction negotiations to take place in Paris in 2015, and hopes that “quite a number of countries will be able to join.”
Abbott did not say if Australia would contribute to the Green Climate Fund, an organization that provides financial help to developing countries to assist them in countering climate change.
He pointed out Australia’s $10 billion investment in the Clean Energy Finance Corporation and introduction of a $2.55 billion fund to purchase abatement over the next four years.
“A significant part of our aid contribution – [Australia’s] overseas aid, particularly in the Pacific – is climate mitigation,” Abbott said, illustrating his country’s efforts in this field.
“We do deliver on our reductions targets, unlike some other countries, and I think it’s important that I make this point,” the Australian prime minister said, before praising Hollande for talking about a binding agreement.
“What’s important is that the agreement is strong and effective and that the targets are met,” he said, again pointing out that “Australia more than met its reduction targets and that can’t be said of other countries.”
The two leaders also spoke of Australia’s trade negotiations, as well as French citizens fighting in Syria and Iraq.
