Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has raised the stakes on climate change and bushfires in a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in San Francisco.
The leaders are in the United States for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders meeting.
U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader Xi Jinping were also in California for the event.
During talks with the Canadian prime minister, Mr. Albanese expressed concern about Australia’s upcoming summer bushfire season.
In a statement, the office of the prime minister of Canada confirmed the leaders discussed collaborating together on climate change following bushfires in Canada.
‘We Are Very Worried’: Albanese On Summer Ahead
While discussing cooperation on clean energy and climate change going forward with Mr. Trudeau, Mr. Albanese drew a link between recent bushfires in Canada and climate change.
“Tragically, just as we’re working on the transition and the response to climate change, we’re also talking occasionally about the cooperation that we have about the reality of climate change with the wildfires you’ve just had,” he said.
“I’m very proud that Australians were there once again to help Canada, just as Canadians have been in Australia.
Mr. Albanese continued, “We are very worried about our upcoming summer,” stating the nation had “all the conditions that were there prior to 2019-20.”
“The fact that that period has gone means you’ve got ... to really be concerned with a very dry, hot period coming up for us.”
The prime minister also told Mr. Trudeau the world was in a “global transition to clean energy,” and that both Australia and Canada had the critical minerals and resources to drive the transition.
In addition, the prime ministers discussed cooperation in the Asia-Pacific, the Middle East conflict, and support for the Ukraine.
Both leaders also affirmed Israel’s right to defend itself within the realms of international law, while expressing deep concern about the “dire humanitarian situation in Gaza.”
Meeting With Gavin Newsom
Mr. Albanese also provided a brief update on his meeting with California Governor Gavin Newsom in San Francisco.“This morning, I was able to meet with California Governor Newsom, where we discussed how we take forward the cooperation on climate change that has been delivered under our MOU, building on the ambitious Climate, Critical Minerals and Clean Energy Transition Compact that I agreed with President Biden earlier this year,” Mr. Albanese said.
Australia’s Ambassador to the United States Kevin Rudd and the governor’s wife Jennifer Siebel Newsom were also present at the meeting.
Mr. Newsom said, “We established that sister city [relationship] with Sydney many, many years ago, so we’ve always felt that connection, particularly the Bay.”
The group also discussed priorities for the first year of the partnership.
Mr. Newsom has been touted as a possible presidential candidate in the future.
In a welcome speech to APEC leaders, U.S. President Joe Biden joked about Mr. Newsom, “He’s been one hell of a governor, man. Matter of fact, he could be anything he wants. He could have the job I’m looking for.”
