Abbott rejects UN panel's criticism of Australia's "free-rider" climate diplomacy

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott on Friday rejected accusations by a United Nations panel that Australia is a "free-rider" in climate diplomacy.

The Africa Progress report, released by former United Nations secretary general Kofi Annan, condemned Australia among four nations for "effectively withdrawing from constructive engagement on climate."

It also singled out Australia for more criticism, after the Abbott government abolished a price on carbon emissions in July 2014.

"With one of the world's highest levels of per capita emissions, Australia has gone from leadership to free-rider status in climate diplomacy," the report said. "Current policies will result in emissions increasing by about 12-18 percent above 2000 emissions."

Abbott, who made removing the carbon tax a focal point of his 2013 election, dismissed the criticism by promising carbon emissions by 2020 would be 5 percent lower than levels in the year 2000.

"Under this government, we will meet our target. We will meet our target and it's a very internationally respectable target," Abbott told reporters on Friday.

Abbott blamed the federal opposition, which brought in the short-lived carbon tax in 2012, for "talking down" Australia.

"The difference between this government and our political opponents is that we will meet the target without smashing the economy with a great big new tax on everything." Abbott said.

Richard Di Natale, leader of the Australian Greens party which was instrumental in introducing Australia's carbon tax, said the nation now resembled a 'pariah' in discussions on reducing global emissions. "How is it that we're effectively riding on the backs of some of the poorest nations who are in fact doing a great deal when it comes to addressing climate change?" Di Natale said.

The Africa Progress Panel report, which focused mainly on improving electricity access for Africa, also considered the risk to the continent from increasing climate change.

"It is a vital question for Africa," the report said. "No region has done less to contribute to the climate crisis, but no region will pay a higher price for failure to tackle it."

It commended recent efforts by China, the United States and Europe in combating carbon emissions, but cursed Australia, Canada and Japan for "failing to take decisive action" despite known threats.

It said those countries needed "to adopt a more credible and constructive stance on their climate offers." Endi