Australia has signed a new agreement with the United States on the sideline of the G7 summit, hailed by President Joe Biden as the “third pillar” of the alliance.
PM Anthony Albanese and President Joe Biden signed a new agreement to further collaboration between the two countries on climate and clean energy.
“Today what we’ve done is add a new element to that alliance, upfront, very clearly, unequivocally, climate action,” Albanese said.
“Australia is back around the table, and what we know is that action on climate change … is the entry-fee to credibility in the Indo-Pacific. Many of our neighbours understand that climate change is an existential threat.”
President Biden lauded the agreement a “huge step forward” in the fight against the climate crisis.
“We’re going to establish climate and clean energy as the third pillar of the Australia-US Alliance,” he said.
“This contract can enable the expansion and diversification of clean energy supply chains, especially as it relates to critical materials.”
In a joint statement, the two leaders said the agreement would drive both countries’ economies to accelerate the global uptake of clean energy, and address the growing energy demands of the Indo-Pacific.