Australia not pulling its weight on climate: former UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon

In an opinion piece for The Canberra Times based on his address to the Better Futures Forum on Tuesday, the veteran Korean politician and diplomat, who served as secretary-general from 2007 to 2016, says Australia's current goal of a 26 to 28 per cent reduction on 2005 emissions levels by 2030 is insufficient to meet its Paris Agreement commitments.

"Ethically, the toll of inaction on climate is incalculable," Mr Ban writes.

"Economically, failing to set ambitious, credible emissions targets in line with the rest of the world poses a huge threat to Australia's future prosperity and international standing.

"Australia risks finding itself on the wrong side of carbon border tariffs as other nations move ahead, seizing the opportunities of the zero-carbon age."

Mr Ban also says Australia has not contributed enough funding for poorer nations to undertake climate action, contributing about $US200 million a year towards the collective $US100 billion annual pledge by developed countries.

"Australia must at least halve emissions this decade, commit to net zero by 2050, and join others in pledging new climate finance," Mr Ban writes.

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Prime Minister Scott Morrison says the federal government won't commit to a net zero by 2050 goal, instead pledging to reach net zero "as soon as possible" and "preferably by 2050".

The government has instead pinned its hopes on a technology-focused approach to reducing emissions over targets and taxes.

The UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change last week released a report saying that without "immediate, rapid and large-scale" cuts to carbon emissions, the world could not hope to keep global warming to its target of 1.5 or even 2 degrees.

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