‘You’re back’: Emmanuel Macron singles out Tanya Plibersek at oceans summit

French President Emmanuel Macron has singled out Australia’s new environment minister Tanya Plibersek in front of a global audience in Portugal, declaring that Australia was back in action on climate change.

Macron, who effectively told the world that former prime minister Scott Morrison lied to him over the submarine contract, has welcomed ministers in the new Labor government warmly.

On Thursday, speaking in Lisbon at the UN Oceans Conference, hours after attending the NATO summit in Madrid, Macron called for world leaders to adopt protections for ocean life and conservation under in an international treaty.

French President Emmanuel Macron kisses a well-wisher at the oceans summit.Credit:AP

He was speaking at a side event at the conference underway in Portugal. Plibersek was specifically invited to attend and sat in the front row.

“You’re back,” Macron said, addressing Plibersek, which prompted applause from those in the room.

“Because we need you in the Indo-Pacific strategy and climate and oceans is part of the strategy for us,” Macron said.

After the event he approached her and clasped her hand in his.

“It’s terrific that Australia and France are working hand in hand once again,” Plibersek told The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.

“The environment is back under the new Australian Government, and it was very generous of President Macron to recognise that,” she said.

Tanya Plibersek told the conference in Portugal that “Australia is back” talking climate. Credit:Louie Douvis

Plibersek was invited to attend Macron’s talk following a speech she gave at the French-organised One Planet event at the conference on Sunday.

Plibersek told that event that climate ambition was Australia’s “only option” and that legislating the government’s 43 per cent reduction target for 2030 would be one of the new government’s first acts when new Parliament convenes at the end of the month.

Australia’s climate targets could still prove a sticking point in the Albanese government’s trade deal negotiations with the European Union.

In an interview with The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, the European Commissioner for Trade Valdis Dombrovskis said climate targets would have to be enforced as part of the deal, or some of Australia’s exports could attract carbon tariffs on the continent.

While the Albanese government’s pledge of 43 per cent by 2030 compared to 2005 levels is deeper than former prime minister Scott Morrison’s target of 26 to 28 per cent by the same year, it is still below the EU benchmark target of 55 per cent on 1990 levels by 2030.

Macron is preparing to host Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Paris after the pair met in Madrid.

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