Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has described his first face-to-face encounter with US President Donald Trump as “warm and engaging” after the two leaders shook hands and posed for a selfie in New York.
The meeting took place at a UN reception, with the White House later confirming that a formal bilateral meeting will follow in Washington next month.
“We had a very warm and engaging chat,” Mr Albanese said, adding that he tends not to reveal the details of private conversations but looks forward to further discussions in the coming weeks.
During his stay in New York, Albanese focused heavily on climate change, delivering remarks at a UN climate event and a New York Times conference. He stressed that the current decade is decisive for addressing the climate crisis and harnessing clean energy opportunities.
His remarks came just a day after President Trump used his UN address to dismiss climate change as a “hoax,” arguing that nations pursuing “green scams” were setting themselves up for failure.
In stark contrast, Albanese unveiled ambitious new targets for Australia: a 70 per cent reduction in emissions by 2035. He described renewables as the key to future prosperity, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region.
“Australians know all too well the toll of extreme weather events becoming more frequent and intense,” he said. “Our approach is not about asking nations to give up jobs or security, but about working together to seize and share the opportunities of clean energy.”
The contrasting approaches to climate policy – Albanese’s push for renewables versus Trump’s outright rejection of the science – set the stage for what is likely to be a challenging yet pivotal meeting between the two leaders in Washington next month.
