Australia’s deputy PM mocks Alok Sharma for his tearsful apology about COP26 promises.
Barnaby Joyce who is head of the junior party in governing coalition ridiculed the summit president because he got emotional during last-minute negotiations.
Boris Johnson’s claims that UN meeting sounded “death knell” for coal was also dismissed by him, and he accused the UK of hypocrisy in relation to fossil fuels.
After a Chinese and India ambush, the wording of The Glasgow Pact changed to include a promise to “phase out” coal.
Mr Sharma told delegates he was ‘deeply sorry’ as he brought down the gavel to signal an agreement had been reached on Saturday.
“May I apologize to all the delegates for how this process unfolded, and I am deeply sorry,” he stated.
“I understand your deep sorrow, but it is also important that this package be protected,”
In an interview with ABC News, Joyce stated that he was annoyed by the name of this man. Mr – the Chairman Sharma in Glasgow.
“And he was holding his saw, as if to say, “Oh, my God, I almost cry.” It’s impossible for me to do that.
Barnaby Joyce (left), leader of the junior political party in the ruling coalition, mocked Alok Sharma right for becoming emotional over last-minute negotiations at COP26
As Mr Sharma spoke, he was in tears and said that he regretted the way the meeting ended with the last-minute modifications to the coal wording.
“He would like to close down our coal mining industry but has never spoken of closing down oil fields in North Sea or Brent.
He doesn’t want it to close. He would rather shut down the industries of other countries than his own.
After being challenged on the merits of mocking Mr Sharma, Joyce responded: “I am cynical.”
“Why didn’t he mention North Sea oil? How about carbon emissions?
“Why can they keep North Sea oil as their largest export and they seem so confused that we won’t shut down coal as our second biggest export?”
Mr Joyce bluntly stated that the summit did not signal the death knell for coal.
Sharma described the COP26 deal as a fragile victory’ and stated that he was emotional because he had hardly slept for three nights and felt the ‘weight on his shoulders’.
Mr Johnson has claimed the gathering was an ‘historic success’ but also voiced disappointment’ at efforts by Beijing and New Delhi – two of the world’s biggest polluters – to weaken efforts to abandon fossil fuels.
Boris Johnson’s claims that the UN meeting had sounded the “death knell” for coal were also dismissed by Mr Joyce (pictured at the Lord Mayor’s Banquet).