Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has stepped cautiously onto the global stage, addressing the UN General Assembly for the first time amid wars and rising nationalism. His agenda included promoting Australia's new 2035 climate targets, recognising Palestinian statehood, and urging countries to follow a social media ban for children under 16.
At a UN climate meeting, Albanese promised Australia would “do more than just guard against the very worst” and stressed that no nation could tackle the crisis alone. He later appeared at a New York Times conference, urging China to reduce emissions and curb new coal-fired power stations. A profile in the paper hailed Australia as “the country pushing through climate partisanship.”
The prime minister warned of a rise in nationalism and individualism worldwide, linking climate change to increased refugee movement and security instability. He emphasised the UN framework as the only viable path forward, while Australia pursues a bid alongside Pacific Island nations to host the Cop31 summit in Adelaide next year, competing with Turkey's rival claim.
On social media, Albanese held a well-attended event advocating a ban for under-16s and met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who praised the Australia-EU relationship. Albanese also revived a bid for a temporary UN Security Council seat in 2029-30, a plan initially announced by Julie Bishop in 2015.
