Australia ready to welcome US return to Paris accord and WHO under Biden administration

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, on vember 9, said that his country would welcome President-elect Joe Biden restoring US to Paris Climate accord. United States had formally withdrawn from Paris climate agreement last week, however, Biden had promised to rejoin Paris pact and also commit to net zero emissions by 2050. w, as Biden became 46th president of United States on Saturday, Morrison said that he would welcome US back to Paris agreement and US return to WHO would also be welcome. 

Morrison said, “We would be welcoming United States back into Paris Agreement, somewhere we’ve always been”. He added, “US return to or global organisation like World Health Organisation (WHO) would also be welcome”. 

While Australian state and territory governments have already adopted 2050 target for net-zero emissions, Morrison’s federal government has yet to do so. Australia is a major exporter of fossil fuels and Morrison said that several countries have made qualified climate commitments. On Monday, independent lawmaker Zali Steggall had also introduced a climate bill to federal parliament seeking a net-zero target. Steggal said that Australia would be “pariah” of international community if it didn’t strengn its climate commitments. 

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Australia would welcome US engaging with WTO 

Meanwhile, on Sunday, Morrison had also said that his country would also welcome United States engaging with World trade Organisation because way out of global recession triggered by coronavirus pandemic is “market-based trade, fair, trade, under proper rules through WTO”. While congratulating Biden and Kamala Harris on ir success in US elections, Morrison said that he looked forward to “forging a great partnership”. 

He added that Biden would bring “a deep experience and a deep history” to ir relationship. Furr, Morrison also thanked Trump administration for a “very, very good relationship” and added that he hoped this would continue during transition period. 

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