OSCE Chairperson's High-Level Conference on Climate Change - Country Statement by Australia
21 June 2024
Statement delivered by Ms Kristin Tilley, Australia's Ambassador for Climate Change (21 June 2024)
Madame Moderator, Secretary-General, Ministers, Excellencies, Distinguished Representatives,
Thank you Chair, for your initiative in hosting this Conference. Australia welcomes the leadership Malta has brought to the role of Chairperson of the OSCE, including by launching its initiative Climate Diplomacy: Empowerment for a Resilient Future. This is timely as we seek – together – to address the growing implications of climate change for security.
Madame Moderator
We recognise that climate change is contributing to economic disruption and threats to human security. Its effects are exacerbating instability, conflict, displacement, food and water insecurity, and competition over resources. The increasing frequency and severity of disasters threaten the welfare of many.
The effects of climate change are likely to bear even more heavily in the coming decades on all states, at a time when we see fundamental principles of the UN Charter being transgressed.
Russia’s illegal and immoral invasion of Ukraine continues in violation of fundamental principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity – and it has exacerbated the global crises in food and energy security.
Madame Moderator
As an Asian Partner for Co-operation, Australia will continue to work with partners to bolster resilience and resistance to all threats of security. Much of our work will be directed to Southeast Asia and the Pacific – our neighbouring regions – where we work in support of ASEAN and the Pacific Islands Forum respectively.
For example, Australia is contributing $100 million to help capitalise the Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF), a Pacific-owned and led initiative for climate finance. This will support small-scale, locally-led climate and disaster resilience projects and help Pacific countries respond to losses and damages from climate change.
But we know that the challenges of responding to climate change need to be met in every region. Australia hopes to host COP31 in 2026, in partnership with the Pacific, to help drive collective action globally. We welcome the opportunity to collaborate here with OSCE Participating States and Partners for Cooperation on how we can build resilience in all regions.
Last, I’d like to reiterate Australia’s commitment to prioritising social inclusion, gender, Indigenous and human rights issues in our responses to climate change – each issues in which more collaboration can inform and improve our respective approaches.
Madame Moderator
Let me close by thanking you for the opportunity of joining OSCE Participating States and Partners for Cooperation in this important forum. I look forward to fruitful cooperation in future.
Thank you.