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 確認 què rèn 他們 tā men 「 「 表現 biǎo xiàn 得極 dé jí 不 bù 敏感 mǐn gǎn , , 穿著 chuān zhù T恤 T xù 」 」 , , 並 bìng 指出 zhǐ chū 雖然 suī rán 有人 yǒu rén 猜測 cāi cè 他們 tā men 穿 chuān 的 de 是 shì T恤 T xù 還是 hái shì 睡衣 shuì yī , , 但 dàn 照片 zhào piān 證實 zhèng shí 確實 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.
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.
此聲 cǐ shēng 稱 chēng 省略 shěng lüè 了 le 幾個 jǐ gè 重要 zhòng yào 的 de 背景 bèi jǐng 元素 yuán 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.
休閒 xiū xián 穿著 chuān zhù 可能 kě néng 反映 fǎn yìng 了 le 深夜 shēn yè 時段 shí duàn 的 de 疲憊 pí bèi , , 而 ér 非 fēi 刻意 kè yì 的 de 無禮 wú lǐ , , 儘 jǐn 管 guǎn 其他 qí tā 談判 tán pàn 代表 dài biǎo 認為 rèn wèi 無論 wú lùn 如何 rú hé 這都 zhè dōu 是 shì 不合 bù hé 適的 shì 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.
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].
**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...
搜尋範圍 sōu xún fàn wéi : : 「 「 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.
此聲 cǐ shēng 稱 chēng 的 de 核心 hé xīn 事實 shì shí 要素 yào sù 獲得 huò dé 多個 duō gè 獨立 dú lì 來源 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.
澳洲 ào zhōu 確實 què shí 沒有 méi yǒu 派遣 pài qiǎn 部長 bù zhǎng , , 代表 dài biǎo 們 men 在 zài 嚴肅 yán sù 談判 tán pàn 中 zhōng 穿著 chuān zhù 休閒 xiū xián 服裝 fú zhuāng , , 132 132 個 gè 發展 fā zhǎn 中國家 zhōng guó jiā 確實 què shí 因 yīn 澳洲 ào zhōu 的 de 行為 xíng wèi 和 hé 談判 tán pàn 立場 lì chǎng 而 ér 退出 tuì chū 談判 tán pàn [ [ 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].
- - 退場 tuì chǎng 行動 xíng dòng 部分 bù fèn 是 shì 一種 yī zhǒng 談判 tán pàn 策略 cè lüè , , 圍繞 wéi rào 有 yǒu 爭議 zhēng yì 的 de 「 「 損失 sǔn shī 與 yǔ 損害 sǔn hài 」 」 問題 wèn tí , , 而 ér 非 fēi 純粹針 chún cuì zhēn 對 duì 禮儀 lǐ yí 問題 wèn tí 的 de 反應 fǎn yīng 。 。
Australia was not alone in opposing the mechanism, though its tactics were particularly confrontational.
- The casual dress occurred at 4am during marathon negotiations.
值得注意 zhí de zhù yì 的 de 是 shì , , 沒有 méi yǒu 發達國家 fā dá guó jiā 支持 zhī chí 這一 zhè yī 問題 wèn tí 的 de 財務 cái wù 賠償 péi cháng — — — — 英國 yīng guó 談判 tán pàn 代表 dài biǎo 表示 biǎo shì : : 「 「 我們 wǒ men 不 bù 接受 jiē shòu 賠償 péi cháng 的 de 論點 lùn diǎn 。 。
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].