JODIE DEAN
Climate change is the biggest issue facing humanity today, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu told a G20 pre-summit conference in Brisbane today.
A keynote speaker at Griffith University’s Strengthening Global Growth pre-summit conference on Friday, Dr Davutoğlu said nations must work together to solve climate issues, as it requires an “ontological” relationship (a more real and wholistic relationship) rather than a political one.
“When it comes to the issue of climate, we should not act as ministers of foreign affairs of nation states, but we should act as ministers of (the) whole of humanity,” he said.
Prime Minister Davutoğlu’s comments are in direct contrast to Australian Treasurer Joe Hockey’s yesterday.
Mr Hockey said while climate change was important, it was not the main focus for this year’s G20.
But Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu has vowed climate change will be on Turkey’s G20 agenda.
Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister Josh Frydenberg tweeted this photo of his briefing meeting with Dr Davutoğlu.
Pleasure to meet with the Prime Minister of Turkey this afternoon as part of @Griffith_Uni pre @G20Australia Summit pic.twitter.com/OmcuTdocYa
— Josh Frydenberg (@JoshFrydenberg) November 14, 2014