The claim refers to events at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP19) held in Warsaw, Poland in November 2013, shortly after Tony Abbott's Coalition government was elected in September 2013.
**Regarding "no one important sent":** The Australian delegation was indeed without ministerial representation.
This was a notable departure from previous Australian practice where ministers typically attended such international summits [2].
**Regarding t-shirts and casual dress:** Multiple sources confirm the casual attire.
Climate Change News reported that "Australia's team at UN talks in Warsaw have been accused of lacking respect after delegates turned up to critical discussions wearing shorts and teeshirts" [1].
Renew Economy confirmed they "were being extremely insensitive, wearing t-shirts" and noted that while there was speculation about whether they were wearing t-shirts or pyjamas, photos confirmed they were indeed t-shirts [2].
EU negotiator Paul Watkinson tweeted: "It is one thing to be tired in a negotiation meeting, another to turn up in pyjamas – respect matters" [1].
**Regarding giggling and insensitive behavior:** Saleemul Huq, a scientific advisor to the G77 and China negotiating bloc, stated: "This is a serious issue.
Renew Renew Economy Economy 证实 zhèng shí 他们 tā men " " 穿着 chuān zhe T恤 T xù , , 表现 biǎo xiàn 得 dé 极为 jí wéi 轻率 qīng shuài " " , , 并 bìng 指出 zhǐ chū 虽然 suī rán 有人 yǒu rén 猜测 cāi cè 他们 tā men 穿 chuān 的 de 是 shì T恤 T xù 还是 hái shì 睡衣 shuì yī , , 但 dàn 照片 zhào piān 证实 zhèng shí 确实 què shí 是 shì T恤 T xù [ [ 2 2 ] ] 。 。
We are talking about life and death, people are dying from Typhoon Haiyan, we've got people on hunger strike here.
我们 wǒ men 谈论 tán lùn 的 de 是 shì 生死 shēng sǐ 问题 wèn tí , , 人们 rén men 正因 zhèng yīn 台风 tái fēng 海燕 hǎi yàn 而 ér 丧生 sàng shēng , , 我们 wǒ men 这里 zhè lǐ 还有 hái yǒu 人 rén 在 zài 绝食抗议 jué shí kàng yì 。 。
Reports also described delegates "gorging on snacks" during critical negotiations [1].
**Regarding the walkout:** The G77 and China bloc (representing 132 developing nations) walked out of talks at approximately 4am on Wednesday, November 20, 2013.
According to Climate Change News, "The G77 alliance, which includes India, Africa and the small island states, staged a walk out of the negotiation when Australia refused to agree to a functioning text" [1].
The walkout was specifically related to negotiations on a new "loss and damage mechanism" which would address compensation for developing nations affected by climate change impacts.
该 gāi 说法 shuō fǎ 遗漏 yí lòu 了 le 几个 jǐ gè 重要 zhòng yào 的 de 背景 bèi jǐng 因素 yīn sù : :
The claim omits several important contextual elements:
**Timing and circumstances:** The incident occurred at 4am during marathon late-night negotiations, a common feature of international climate talks.
As Renew Economy noted, "in the institutionalised chaos of international climate talks, particularly in the final days of negotiations, grandstanding is commonplace" [2].
The casual dress may have reflected the late hour rather than deliberate disrespect, though other negotiators considered it inappropriate regardless.
**The substantive policy dispute:** The walkout wasn't solely about manners—it was about a substantive disagreement on the "loss and damage mechanism." Australia was blocking progress on this mechanism, which developing nations viewed as essential.
休闲 xiū xián 着装 zhuó zhuāng 可能 kě néng 反映 fǎn yìng 了 le 深夜 shēn yè 的 de 疲惫 pí bèi 而 ér 非故意 fēi gù yì 的 de 不敬 bù jìng , , 尽管 jǐn guǎn 其他 qí tā 谈判代表 tán pàn dài biǎo 认为 rèn wéi 无论 wú lùn 出于 chū yú 何种 hé zhǒng 原因 yuán yīn 这 zhè 都 dōu 是 shì 不 bù 恰当 qià dàng 的 de 。 。
According to Huq, "the Australian delegation just put brackets around everything.
The walkout was a negotiating tactic as much as a protest against behavior.
**Typhoon Haiyan context:** The sensitivity around this issue was heightened because Typhoon Haiyan had recently devastated the Philippines, making the loss and damage issue particularly emotional for developing nations [2].
**Australia's broader policy shift:** The incident occurred in the context of the new Abbott government dismantling Australian climate policies.
Australia had previously played a constructive role in climate negotiations and chaired the Umbrella Group (representing non-EU developed countries).
所有 suǒ yǒu 的 de 谈判 tán pàn 都 dōu 白费 bái fèi 了 le " " [ [ 1 1 ] ] 。 。
Alden Meyer from the Union of Concerned Scientists noted that Australia had previously "done a fairly good job of co-ordinating the Umbrella Group and taking a responsible position" but was now in "a totally different mode of behaviour" [2].
However, the specific factual claims about the incident are corroborated by multiple other sources including Climate Change News [1] and direct quotes from negotiators.
- **Climate Change News** (now Climate Home News) is a specialized climate journalism outlet with a reputation for independent reporting on international climate negotiations [1].
- **Primary source quotes:** The reporting includes direct quotes from named individuals including Saleemul Huq (International Institute for Environment and Development), Paul Watkinson (EU negotiator), and Alden Meyer (Union of Concerned Scientists), adding credibility to the factual claims [1][2].
- **Photo evidence:** Renew Economy noted they had seen photos confirming the t-shirts, adding photographic verification to textual reports [2].
然而 rán ér , , 关于 guān yú 事件 shì jiàn 的 de 具体 jù tǐ 事实 shì shí 主张 zhǔ zhāng 得到 dé dào 了 le 包括 bāo kuò 《 《 气候变化 qì hòu biàn huà 新闻 xīn wén 》 》 [ [ 1 1 ] ] 和 hé 谈判代表 tán pàn dài biǎo 直接 zhí jiē 引述 yǐn shù 在内 zài nèi 的 de 多个 duō gè 其他 qí tā 来源 lái yuán 的 de 证实 zhèng shí 。 。
The sources appear credible for the factual claims about the incident, though the framing emphasizes the negative aspects of Australia's conduct.
**Did Labor do something similar?**
Search conducted: "Australian Labor government climate summit attendance ministers Copenhagen Cancun Durban"
Finding: No direct equivalent to this specific incident was found.
* * * *
The Rudd and Gillard Labor governments (2007-2013) took a different approach to international climate engagement:
- The Labor government ratified the Kyoto Protocol and established the carbon pricing mechanism that the Abbott government was actively dismantling during COP19 [1][2].
- Under Labor, Australia had played a more constructive role in international climate negotiations, including chairing the Umbrella Group and participating in the Cartagena Dialogue [2].
- South African negotiator Alf Wills explicitly noted the contrast: "We are mindful that the Australian government has recently changed, and has a different policy...
搜索 sōu suǒ : : " " Australian Australian Labor Labor government government climate climate summit summit attendance attendance ministers ministers Copenhagen Copenhagen Cancun Cancun Durban Durban " "
What is disappointing for us is the comment made by the new prime minister that Australia will only do minus 5%" [2].
**Key difference:** The incident at COP19 reflected a fundamental policy shift under the new Coalition government rather than a continuation of previous practice.
Bangladesh's head of delegation noted that "the political change in Australia has completely reversed its position" [2].
**Did other governments behave similarly?**
The incident was not entirely unique to Australia in terms of diplomatic friction at climate talks.
However, the combination of no ministerial attendance, casual dress during serious negotiations, and the specific behavior alleged (giggling, snacking) was unusual enough to prompt a walkout—a relatively rare occurrence in UN climate negotiations.
**The criticisms are largely valid:**
The core factual elements of the claim are supported by multiple independent sources.
该 gāi 说法 shuō fǎ 的 de 核心 hé xīn 事实 shì shí 要素 yào sù 得到 dé dào 了 le 多个 duō gè 独立 dú lì 来源 lái yuán 的 de 支持 zhī chí 。 。
Australia did not send ministers, delegates wore casual attire during serious negotiations, and a walkout by 132 developing nations did occur specifically in response to Australian conduct and negotiating positions [1][2].
**However, context matters:**
- The walkout was partly a negotiating tactic around the contentious "loss and damage" issue, not purely a reaction to manners.
澳大利亚 ào dà lì yà 确实 què shí 没有 méi yǒu 派遣 pài qiǎn 部长 bù zhǎng , , 代表 dài biǎo 们 men 确实 què shí 在 zài 严肃 yán sù 谈判 tán pàn 中 zhōng 穿着 chuān zhe 便装 biàn zhuāng , , 132 132 个 gè 发展中国家 fā zhǎn zhōng guó jiā 的 de 退场 tuì chǎng 确实 què shí specifically specifically 是 shì 对 duì 澳大利亚 ào dà lì yà 行为 xíng wéi 和 hé 谈判 tán pàn 立场 lì chǎng 的 de 回应 huí yìng [ [ 1 1 ] ] [ [ 2 2 ] ] 。 。
As noted, no developed country supported financial compensation on this issue—the UK negotiator stated: "We don't accept the argument on compensation.
We never have and we're not intending to start now" [1].
- - 退场 tuì chǎng 部分 bù fèn 是 shì 针对 zhēn duì 有 yǒu 争议 zhēng yì 的 de " " 损失 sǔn shī 和 hé 损害 sǔn hài " " 问题 wèn tí 的 de 谈判 tán pàn 策略 cè lüè , , 而 ér 不仅仅 bù jǐn jǐn 是 shì 对 duì 礼仪 lǐ yí 的 de 反应 fǎn yìng 。 。
Australia was not alone in opposing the mechanism, though its tactics were particularly confrontational.
- The casual dress occurred at 4am during marathon negotiations.
While still considered inappropriate by other negotiators, this context suggests exhaustion rather than deliberate mockery.
- The Abbott government's approach reflected its domestic mandate to dismantle the carbon price and reduce Australia's climate ambition.
While internationally unpopular, this was consistent with the government's domestic policy platform.
**Comparative context:**
This incident represents a sharp departure from Australia's previous constructive role in climate negotiations under Labor.
The specific combination of no ministerial presence, casual attire, and alleged insensitive behavior was unusual enough to become international news and damage Australia's diplomatic standing on climate issues.
**Key context:** This incident was unique to the Coalition government's early period and reflected a deliberate shift away from active climate engagement, not a pattern common across Australian governments of different parties.
The subsequent Coalition government under Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison would later return to more conventional diplomatic engagement at climate summits.
Multiple independent sources confirm that: (1) no ministers were sent to the COP19 climate summit in Warsaw in 2013 [1]; (2) delegates wore t-shirts/shorts during serious negotiations [1][2]; (3) other negotiators accused them of insensitive behavior including giggling [2]; and (4) 132 developing nations in the G77 and China bloc walked out of negotiations in response [1][2].
Multiple independent sources confirm that: (1) no ministers were sent to the COP19 climate summit in Warsaw in 2013 [1]; (2) delegates wore t-shirts/shorts during serious negotiations [1][2]; (3) other negotiators accused them of insensitive behavior including giggling [2]; and (4) 132 developing nations in the G77 and China bloc walked out of negotiations in response [1][2].