Politics With Michelle Grattan: Chris Bowen On Co-Hosting COP And Australia's Renewables Target

It's been a year of devastating floods and fires around the world and has served as a stark reminder of the increasing ravages of climate change.

Globally, however, progress to limit emissions is faltering, with economic pressures, international conflicts, the rise of populism and a weakening of will slowing global cooperation.

Australia this year is at the centre of international climate talks. We are co-hosting with Turkey the United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP), held in November, with a pre-COP to held in Fiji and Tuvalu early in October.

Chris Bowen is the Minister for Climate Change and Energy and President for Negotiations for the COP, and he joined us today to discuss climate issues domestically and abroad.

Bowen says COP preparations“are going well”.

Bowen fights back against criticisms of the lack of foreign leaders set to go to the pre-COP in Fiji and Tuvalu:

On Australia's climate targets – a reduction of emissions of 43% below 2005 levels and having 82% renewables by 2030 – Bowen is confident is we'll meet both:

On power prices, while not committing to a fall, Bowen says there has been good progress on reducing wholesale prices:

On rural communities' views on renewables, Bowen acknowledges there is opposition but says he sees support too:

Bowen says comments made by Pauline Hanson and One Nation show she isn't serious about taking the temperature down:

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