Australia's credibility in the Pacific has been further dented by its actions at last week's UN climate summit, says a researcher.
The talks in Madrid, known as COP 25, ended on Sunday with key questions about the implementation of the Paris agreement delayed to next year.
That was caused by a small bloc - which included Australia, the US, and Brazil - opposing a push for higher ambition, and blocking strict regulations around carbon markets.
Pacific countries condemned Australia's isolated stance of wanting to use carryover credits from the Kyoto Protocol of the 1990s to meet its Paris agreement targets, with Fiji's attorney general calling the region's biggest country the "black sheep" of the family.
Richie Merzian, a former Australian climate negotiator who's now with the Australian Institute thinktank, told Jamie Tahana the talks left many feeling bitter.
Antonio Guterres, Secretary General of UN (centre), talks during the High Level Global Climate Action Event in the COP25 Summit, Madrid. Photo: AFP
