The Claim
“Ceased payments to the United Nations climate change fund.”
Original Sources Provided
✅ FACTUAL VERIFICATION
The claim is substantially accurate. In October 2018, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that Australia would cease contributions to the UN's Green Climate Fund (GCF). Morrison stated on radio: "Nor are we bound to go and tip money into that big climate fund; we're not going to do that either." [1] Australia made its final payment to the fund in December 2018 [2].
This decision reversed a commitment Australia had made during the Abbott government (2013-2015). Foreign Minister Julie Bishop had decided that Australia would contribute A$200 million to the GCF, and Australia maintained this funding from 2015 until 2018 [3]. When Morrison became Prime Minister in August 2018, the policy shifted dramatically toward bilateral climate finance rather than multilateral funding through the GCF [4].
Missing Context
However, the claim requires important clarification about what "ceased" means and why this was done:
Australia's Justification: The Morrison government stated it would redirect climate finance through bilateral partnerships rather than the multilateral GCF, citing governance challenges with the Fund [5]. Australia maintained an overall commitment to provide A$1 billion in climate finance over five years to 2020, but chose to deliver this through direct bilateral aid programs instead, particularly to Pacific island nations [6]. Australia allocated A$300 million specifically for Pacific climate resilience [7].
The Abbott Government's Role: The claim doesn't clarify that it was Abbott/Bishop who initially committed the A$200 million to the GCF (2015-2018), not Morrison. Morrison terminated this commitment [8]. Abbott, despite being a climate skeptic who called the GCF "a Bob Brown bank on an international scale," had authorized the commitment through Julie Bishop [9].
International Standing: By ceasing GCF payments, Australia became the only developed nation (aside from the Trump administration in the US) to refuse to channel climate finance through the multilateral Green Climate Fund, making this a distinctive policy position [10].
Later Reversal: This was not a permanent position. In October 2023, the Albanese Labor government announced Australia would rejoin the GCF with a A$50 million contribution to the 2024-2027 replenishment, responding to requests from Pacific partner nations [11].
Source Credibility Assessment
The original source is The Hill, a US-based political news outlet with center-right orientation. While The Hill reported this factually, the claim itself is straightforward and has been widely confirmed by multiple authoritative sources including Climate Change News, Al Jazeera, the Lowy Institute, and Australian government statements [1][4][10].
Labor Comparison
Did Labor do something similar?
Australia's Labor governments under Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard (2007-2013) focused on establishing strong domestic climate policy through the failed Emissions Trading Scheme (Rudd, 2007-2010) and the Carbon Pricing Mechanism/Carbon Tax (Gillard, 2012-2013) [12]. However, the search results do not contain specific evidence that Rudd or Gillard made substantial contributions to international multilateral climate funds.
The Labor government under Anthony Albanese (2022-present) has taken the opposite position from the Coalition by rejoining the Green Climate Fund in 2023, demonstrating a clear policy reversal and commitment to multilateral climate finance mechanisms [11].
Balanced Perspective
The Morrison government's decision requires understanding both the criticisms and the stated rationale:
The Criticism: Environmental advocates and international observers criticized the withdrawal as undermining Australia's climate credibility and commitment to multilateral climate cooperation [4][10]. This was particularly damaging given Australia's vulnerability to climate change impacts and its geographic position in the Pacific where island nations face existential climate threats.
The Government's Rationale: The Coalition argued that:
- The GCF had governance challenges that made direct bilateral funding more effective [5]
- Australia would maintain its overall climate finance commitment through targeted bilateral programs [6]
- Pacific island nations would benefit more from direct Australian support than through multilateral mechanisms [7]
Expert Assessment: The Lowy Institute, a respected Australian think tank, examined this issue and noted that Australia's withdrawal had real consequences—the loss of the region's main donor advocate on the GCF board coincided with declining Pacific nation access to the Fund [13]. This suggests the Coalition's bilateral approach may not have fully replaced the advocacy function of multilateral participation.
Comparison to Labor: While Labor under Rudd and Gillard focused on domestic climate action rather than international climate finance mechanisms, the Albanese Labor government has prioritized rejoining multilateral climate finance structures, signaling a fundamentally different approach to international climate cooperation [11].
TRUE
8.0
out of 10
Australia did cease payments to the UN Green Climate Fund under the Coalition government. Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced this policy in October 2018, and Australia made its final payment in December 2018 [1][2]. However, this was an active policy reversal—not merely the end of a standing commitment—as Australia had been contributing A$200 million to the GCF from 2015-2018 under the Abbott government [3]. The claim is factually accurate but benefits from context explaining that Australia justified this through redirecting funds to bilateral climate finance and that the policy was later reversed by the Labor government in 2023.
Final Score
8.0
OUT OF 10
TRUE
Australia did cease payments to the UN Green Climate Fund under the Coalition government. Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced this policy in October 2018, and Australia made its final payment in December 2018 [1][2]. However, this was an active policy reversal—not merely the end of a standing commitment—as Australia had been contributing A$200 million to the GCF from 2015-2018 under the Abbott government [3]. The claim is factually accurate but benefits from context explaining that Australia justified this through redirecting funds to bilateral climate finance and that the policy was later reversed by the Labor government in 2023.
📚 SOURCES & CITATIONS (11)
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1
Australia won't give money to Green Climate Fund, says PM
The country won't withdraw from the Paris Agreement, but it's not obliged to follow UN recommendations either, Scott Morrison said
Climate Home News -
2
Australia stops payments to Green Climate Fund
Australian budget offers nothing to flagship UN scheme as its board seeks replenishment, while climate shapes as divisive election issue
Climate Home News -
3
Australia to rejoin Global Climate Fund it abandoned in 2018
The Green Climate Fund was set up to help poorer countries cope with the devastating effects of climate change.
Al Jazeera -
4
Australia will no longer contribute to major UN climate change fund
Thehill
-
5
Revitalising the Green Climate Fund
The world’s largest climate-dedicated multilateral fund must increase its focus on serving the most climate vulnerable countries, including in the Pacific Islands region.
Lowyinstitute -
6
Revisiting the Green Climate Fund in the Pacific
The Fund is providing important support but access remains a challenge. Australia re-joining could make the difference
Lowyinstitute -
7
Australia and the Green Climate Fund: Supporting new climate investments
Dfat Gov
-
8
Abbott government climate policy
Follow the latest headlines from ABC News, Australia's most trusted media source, with live events, audio and on-demand video from the national broadcaster.
Abc Net -
9
Defiant Scott Morrison tells the world Australia is 'doing our bit' on climate change
While a new report from the IPCC highlights the need for urgent climate change action, Morrison used his address to the UN to strongly defend the government’s performance on climate change.
The Conversation -
10
Australia to rejoin UN Green Climate Fund
The Federal Government has announced Australia will rejoin the United Nations Green Climate Fund, a collective that finances climate mitigation
Ecogeneration -
11
Rudd government (2007–2010) and Climate Policy
En Wikipedia
Rating Scale Methodology
1-3: FALSE
Factually incorrect or malicious fabrication.
4-6: PARTIAL
Some truth but context is missing or skewed.
7-9: MOSTLY TRUE
Minor technicalities or phrasing issues.
10: ACCURATE
Perfectly verified and contextually fair.
Methodology: Ratings are determined through cross-referencing official government records, independent fact-checking organizations, and primary source documents.