Member-nations of the G20 may be saying goodbye to hopes of ever having a strong and effective action plan against climate change when Australia takes over the leadership in December. International observers find no evidence that the country is taking the global issue of climate change seriously.

In a press conference on Nov 12, Prime Minister Tony Abbott said Australia accepts that climate change is happening and humans are contributing to it. He said Australia is ready to take a strong and effective action against climate change.

Contrary to his statements, the Coalition government has launched a legislation to repeal Labour's carbon tax, including its measures to decrease greenhouse gas emissions. Mr Abbott has abolished the Climate Change Authority, Climate Commission and the Clean Energy Finance Corporation. The Climate Commission was headed by Tim Flannery and tasked to explain climate science to Australians.

To replace the carbon tax policy, the Coalition government is planning to push its Direct Action Plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Under this plan, Mr Abbott assured corporations that emissions will be reduced by 5 per cent and within the budget.

However, most economists and environment groups believe the Direct Action plan will not work. The prime minister might have suggested a strong and effective action, but critics say abolishing the current climate change policy might not be the right solution.

Australia's reputation as a valuable force in developing an international climate policy has been trashed largely due to its poor ranking in the recent climate change performance index and its inability to send a representative for the United Nations' climate change talks in Warsaw, Poland.

According to reports, Australia is being viewed as an "anti-climate" country that is intentionally going against any consensus in climate change talks based on domestic policies. Australia relies on exports and coal for power. It also opposes the statements of a climate finance position paper prepared by climate science experts from the U.S., New Zealand, Canada and Japan.

The decision of Prime Minister Abbott to not send a minister or representative to Warsaw has frustrated climate change negotiators from all over the world. EU is reportedly angry at Australia's Coalition government for repealing the carbon tax.

Australia is set to assume the G20 leadership on Dec 1. According to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australia's chairing of the G20 in 2014 will give the country a chance to influence the global economic agenda and strengthen relationships with major economies in the world.

With Australia taking over the G20 leadership, observers fear that the G20 will not address climate change as aggressively as before.

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