Australia's assistant minister for international development and the Pacific, Anne Ruston, says she is adamant her country will meet its climate change commitments.
Pacific Islands Forum leaders gather for a group photo ahead of their retreat. Photo: Nauru Government
This comes as Australia seeks to broaden its relations with Pacific island nations, for whom climate change is the number one concern.
Australia has made little headway on the Paris Agreement reduction commitment and there have been suggestions the country will pull out of the deal.
Anne Ruston Photo: Liberal Party of Australia
Ms Ruston said Canberra was not pulling out and she dismissed reports that Australia tried to dilute a statement on climate change at the recent Pacific Islands Forum summit.
"I don't think it is accurate to say that we tried to water down the dialogue in the communique," Ms Ruston said.
"We have made it very, very clear that we accept that climate change is a major issue for the Pacific," she said.
"We are certainly, absolutely committed to working with Pacific islands to build their climate resilience to the impact of climate change."
