Ursula von der Leyen meets Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Canberra; Question Time returns
Ursula von der Leyen cited the 2008 financial crisis, the Covid-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine and today’s oil shock as the reasons for energy diversification.
“Diversification was and remains a necessity,” he told Parliament.
“That’s why I’m proud that we’ve made decarbonisation a defining pillar of our free trade agreement. This is stubborn common sense.”
He said he had seen climate change ravage his continent during his six years as president of the European Commission.
“From the floods in Valencia to the bushfires that Australian firefighters came and helped put out. We all know what we’re seeing is more severe,” he said.
“Dorothea Mackellar wrote that Australia’s droughts and floods are affecting your sunburned country. But the point is that these climate events have become more frequent and more intense, and it is our collective responsibility to find solutions that will power the planet we leave to our children.”
