Press conference at COP28, Dubai

MINISTER BOWEN: Well, I'm delighted to be joined by the New Zealand Minister Simon Watts and of course, my Australian colleague, Jenny McAllister.

This COP is a turning point, not an end point, but a turning point. It could have been a breakdown. Australia worked with New Zealand and so many other countries to make sure it's a breakthrough. This is a significant COP. When you think about the world’s significant COPs, this will be on the list.

This is the first time that fossil fuels have ever been mentioned in a COP decision. And that COP decision is that we will transition away from fossil fuels. That is no small thing. It sends a signal to the world’s markets, investors and businesses that this is the direction of travel for countries right around the world.

Last year was the first time renewable energy had been mentioned in a COP decision. And this year, we've decided to triple renewable energy, working together on our pledges. We all signed a pledge, more than 120 countries but also more than that, the decision coming together on tripling renewable energy in particular.

Also, for the first time a global adaptation goal, my colleague, the Assistant Minister, chaired those discussions. This, again, is a big deal. A goal working together, recognising the world has left it too late to stop climate change in its tracks that we need to adapt as well as mitigate, it’s a big thing.

So again, it was a delight to work with so many countries across the board, both as chair of the Umbrella Group and negotiating countries, but more broadly with our friends in the EU and in the Pacific. I say particularly the Pacific.

Of course, this decision is not what everybody would have written themselves as they got off the aeroplane. That's true of the Pacific as it's true Saudi Arabia, but it is a clear direction of travel. And for countries that are at the frontline of climate change, their voices are being heard. And as far as we, as long as we have anything to do with it will continue to be heard and continue to be heard even more loudly.

I’m going to ask Simon, to add a few remarks as part of our Anzac approach to this to this COP, and then Jenny will take a couple of questions. Simon.

MINISTER SIMON WATTS (New Zealand Minister for Climate Change): Thank you very much minister. And firstly, I want to acknowledge the leadership shown by Australia in bringing together I think, a consensus absolutely by that Umbrella Group and a large number of other countries that leadership has been critical in order for this consensus decision that we've seen here today.

I think what is important for our part of the world is a clear signal that this sends to the market. The fact that transitioning away from fossil fuels, is now the direction of travel and a time box around that sends a very clear signal to the market around what is going to be the trajectory from here.

For our Pacific Island neighbours, we have worked consistently with them, we stand shoulder to shoulder and that is critical. The challenge now is around implementation. Our countries are united in terms of our objective to get to that destination and where opportunities exist, we will work together in order to achieve that. But we are very positive going out of this COP. This is a step forward for the globe, and cannot be underestimated in terms of its significance to have all those countries on the same page. Thank you, Australia for leadership.

MINISTER BOWEN: Thank you Simon, Jenny.

ASSISTANT MINISTER MCALLISTER: My focus here, of course was co facilitating the discussions around the global goal on adaptation. Adaptation, of course refers to the way that we adapt to the changes, the climate changes that are now baked in and that we now cannot avoid.

We were delighted to be asked by presidency to support progress on this really important issue. The consultations began at UN climate week in New York, we continued them in Abu Dhabi, and we concluded them here.

What we heard consistently from parties is that a global goal is essential. And we need steps to articulate the targets for that goal and to measure our progress against it.

Incredibly important for Pacific neighbours, and the Pacific constantly tell us that this is deeply connected to our efforts to reduce emissions, every percentage of a degree of warming increases what we need to do to adapt to a changing climate. And that makes a significant difference across the globe. But of course in our region, and we were very proud to work with colleagues to obtain a resolution on this key question.

MINISTER BOWEN: Over to you folks.

JOURNALIST: Minister, can the small island states truly be said to have been heard, given that AOSIS wasn't in the room and the government [indistinct]?

MINISTER BOWEN: Look, you know, AOSIS had their contribution and it's not just about the plenary session. I mean, we kept in close contact with Pacific ministers from our negotiating position all the way through, as I said, you know, this decision is not as AOSIS would have written it, nor is it as China or Saudi Arabia or Russia would have written, it is a global consensus and consensus is difficult to reach.

But if you compare what we've just agreed this morning to what was on the table two nights ago, it is a world of change. And we ensured that the Pacific’s voices were heard in a conversation. That language about transition away from came from the PIF leaders meeting. And we put it on the table for conversation as a conversation starter say, Well, if people can't have phase out, how about this? Again, I'm not here to say that the Pacific or AOSIS, you know, got everything they asked for, I am here to say they are a very important part of the conversation.

JOURNALIST: What specifically is not in the agreement that needs to be?

MINISTER BOWEN: Well, I mean, it's a matter of public record that we've suggested certain things about fossil fuels, etc. But we're very satisfied with the outcome. Again, there are things have been in and out. And you know, if Simon and Jenny and I were writing statements, it would be different. As I keep saying that's the case for every single participant, every single participant. I'm very pleased with this outcome. And I think it gives us a real, a real board from which to jump to the next phase in future COPs. This is a big step forward from Glasgow from Sharm el Sheikh, we have managed to build on that, on that platform.

JOURNALIST: Is there a message out of this for Australia’s fossil fuel producers?

MINISTER BOWEN: Read the text, read the text, and I think the text is very clear, the decision of the world is very clear here. And Australia, as you know, wants to be a renewable energy powerhouse, we want to create the energy for ourselves and for our region and for the world. And that means thousands of good well paying jobs in Australia's regions. And the COP decision today gives us a very good ecosystem which to develop that plan.

JOURNALIST: Will they be encouraged to see gas sort of, or the identification of transitional fuels? At the last minute?

MINISTER BOWEN: You know, my position on this, we've dealt with this in Australia, ad nauseam, we going to 82% renewables, that still means 18% fossil fuels in the grid by 2030. The virtue of gas is that can turn on and off real quickly. I know that people say correctly, that, you know, gas still has emissions, absolutely it does, I’ll tell you what it doesn't have emissions when it's not switched on. And if you've got gas fired peakers backing up your 82% renewable system that are only turned on rarely. That is a big step forward for emissions reduction, a big step forward. So gas does have a role to play as we get to that 82% renewable that's reflected in our domestic position. And it's reflected in the global decision as well.

JOURNALIST: Nuclear is also in the text, will that give comfort to the Opposition?

MINISTER BOWEN: I mean, seriously, nuclear. I mean, 20 countries signed a nuclear pledge, more than 120 countries signed a renewable energy pledge and Ted O'Brien's big idea to get us international company is to join the pledge that 20 people signed and to get out of the pledge that more than 120 people signed. I mean, seriously.

And if you look at the commitment to renewable energy, which Ted O’Brien says he does not support, he said he will withdraw from the pledge on tripling renewables. It's in the text of the COP. I mean, he's just out of touch in Australia and out of out of touch in the world.

Anybody else? Good job. All right. Thank you.