Australia accused of failing to to ‘pull its weight’ on climate despite praise for Albanese ‘step-up’

Ban Ki-moon and Laurence Tubiana say greater ambition needed as climate bill debated in Senate

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Global climate figureheads have welcomed Australia's increased climate commitments under the Albanese government as a positive first step", but said the country needs to do more to match other developed countries and play its part in efforts to limit global heating to 1.5C.

Ban Ki-moon, the former United Nations secretary general, and Laurence Tubiana, known as one of the architects of the Paris climate agreement, told a Canberra conference by video that Labor's climate change legislation and enhanced commitment to the United Nations were welcome changes. But both said more was needed.