Albanese warns of looming Australian heatwaves at UN climate week while fossil ties raise doubts

At the opening of Climate Week in New York, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese warned that Australia and neighboring Pacific nations are bracing for a summer of extreme heat, bushfires and floods, driven by a projected strong El Nino. He reaffirmed the country’s 2035 target to reduce emissions 62-70 % from 2005 levels, pointing to recent gains such as renewables supplying half of peak-period electricity and over 500,000 household batteries installed.

Albanese argued that renewable expansion and electrification can meet the target while sustaining economic growth. However, climate experts like Jennifer Morgan and Natalie Jones cautioned that Australia’s continued investment in fossil fuels and lack of a coal phase-out date threaten its credibility as it assumes the COP31 presidency. They called for clear leadership to translate the COP30 fossil-fuel roadmap into concrete action. Albanese also linked climate action to broader international law concerns and announced Australia’s bid for a 2029-30 UN Security Council seat.