Canavan Backs Paris Agreement, Flags EU Trade Deal as Over‑reach

Queensland Senator Matthew Canavan has put his foot down on two big issues: he backs the 2015 Paris Agreement, but warns that the EU‑Australia trade deal pushes Australia a little too far.

Speaking after a briefing on the Paris climate pact – the global treaty that aims to keep warming below 1.5 °C – Canavan said the agreement remains essential, but Australia must match its commitments to what it can afford.

At the same time, he cautioned that the EU’s trade framework would stretch the country’s resources, describing it as “a bit too far” for Australia’s economic reality.

The senator’s comment underscores a familiar Australian dilemma: how to protect the environment while keeping the economy humming. The Paris Agreement, signed in 2015, is the cornerstone of worldwide efforts to limit temperature rise, and Canavan insists Australia should stay the course.

Balancing those ambitions with trade policy is no easy feat, but Canavan’s message is clear – support the climate goals, but don’t let the trade deal become a kangaroo on a trampoline that sends the economy bouncing out of control.