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ABC News
ABC News
Business
political reporter Stephanie Borys

Scott Morrison yet to decide whether to attend COP26 climate conference in Glasgow

Prime Minister Scott Morrison is currently in quarantine after returning from a trip to the US. (ABC News: Adam Kennedy)

The Prime Minister is yet to make a decision on whether he will fly to Glasgow later this year to attend major climate change talks.  

Known as COP26, the United Nations Climate Change Conference is seen as the most important climate meeting since 2015.

The Prime Minister's office said a decision had not been made about whether Scott Morrison would attend the November event in person. 

Foreign Minister Marise Payne said the government was still working through who would represent Australia at the event. 

"It is a significant undertaking, as you know it involves the two-week domestic quarantine as well, so no final decisions have been made," she said.

"One thing we are absolutely committed to, as we have said, is setting out our long-term emissions reduction plan prior to the COP and that is what we are focused on as a government."

Senator Payne insisted Australia would be appropriately represented at the event.

"It is not a no-show at the conference," she said.

"Australia will be strongly represented at the conference no matter by which senior representative and our commitment is very clear."

Mr Morrison recently arrived back from an official visit to the United States to meet with President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson after the announcement of a new nuclear submarine partnership.

Both Mr Biden and Mr Johnson will be attending the conference in Glasgow.

Mr Morrison has also travelled to Japan and the UK since the beginning of the pandemic.

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese questioned why Mr Morrison had not committed to attending COP26. 

"The Prime Minister should attend the Glasgow conference," he said.

"He should represent Australia. If he doesn't, that's because he's embarrassed about Australia's position."

Australia has been criticised for its emission reduction targets, in particular its failure to adopt a net zero missions by 2050 goal.

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