In an about-face, Australia joins UN climate fund

Sydney

AUSTRALIA will contribute A$200 million (S$218.7 million) over four years into a United Nations fund to help poor nations cope with global warming, Prime Minister Tony Abbott said on Wednesday, a major policy reversal for the embattled former climate-change sceptic.

The pledge to the Green Climate Fund (GCF) is the latest in a string of stinging policy reversals for Mr Abbott, whose struggling conservative government has hit record low approval ratings. "I've made various comments some time ago but as we've seen things develop over the last few months I think it's fair and reasonable for the government to make a modest, prudent and proportionate commitment to this climate mitigation fund," he said in Melbourne.