Australia's climate policies not ambitious enough for summit invite, Boris Johnson told Scott Morrison

The British prime minister wrote to his Australian counterpart to explain why he was denied a speaking slot in December

Boris Johnson has told Scott Morrison Australia was denied a speaking slot at a leaders' climate ambition summit in December because his government had not set ambitious commitments to address the climate crisis.

In a sign of the growing international pressure over climate, the British prime minister also indicated he expected Australia to this year set a timeframe to meet net zero greenhouse gas emissions and increase its short-term commitments - steps the Morrison government continues to resist.