Aussies To Form Alliance to Thwart Obama’s Climate Goals

Australia’s Prime Minister Tony Abbott is seeking out “like-minded” countries to form an alliance to thwart climate policies being pushed by President Obama and other world leaders.

Abbott announced his intention to stymie efforts to push climate policies on unwilling countries as he met with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper on Monday. Abbott said he seeks to  build a conservative alliance with Canada, Britain, India and New Zealand.

All  are Commonwealth countries that were formerly part of the British Empire and are led by center-right governments, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

President Obama’s recently announced regulations on power plants have gained international recognition from the United Nations and some European countries. The White House hopes its new regulations will give the U.S. leverage when negotiating a new international climate deal in 2015.

But Abbott’s planned coalition aims to counter Obama’s push to get the international community to adopt climate policies, like carbon taxes and cap-and-trade schemes.