Australia is 'struggling with position' on global warming By Elise Scott Kiribati President Anote Tong.
Kiribati believes Australia is struggling with its position on climate change, preventing the nation from going into bat for its Pacific neighbours at major climate talks in Paris. 
President Anote Tong is among leaders of some of the world's most vulnerable islands calling for big polluting nations to stand up at the United Nations summit and ensure their survival.
As the richest country in the region, Australia faces Pacific calls to push for a strong deal that limits global warming to 1.5 degrees.
But so far, Mr Tong said he had not seen evidence of that from the Australians.
"They've not been doing any batting at the moment, for us," he said inParis.
"I think they're struggling with their own position at the moment, I think we should let them work that out."
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull addressed the summit on Monday, defending Tony Abbott's emissions reduction targets but indicating flexibility to boost them.
Mr Turnbull has often voiced his strong commitment to climate action, but has so far stuck firm with his predecessor's policies.
Australia and New Zealand refused to sign on to the 1.5 degree goal at thisyear's Pacific Islands Forum - a move Mr Tong labels "a difference ofopinion".
Most richer nations have committed to limiting global warming to 2degrees.
However, it is understood Australia is working behind the scenes in Paris for the 1.5 degree goal, or at least the vulnerability of the Pacific Island nations to be referenced somewhere in the agreement.
The Pacific Islands also want compensation or loss and damage included in a Paris agreement, which is expected to be a red line for developed nations like the United States.
In an attempt to find a compromise, US President Barack Obama met with a Pacific Island delegation, including Mr Tong, on the sidelines of the summit on Tuesday.
Mr Tong confirmed the Pacific would not be backing down.
"We've got to dig our feet in on this," he said. "Otherwise any agreement would have no meaning for us."
There have been suggestions that instead of loss and damage - which could suggest liability for developed nations - the text could include reference to risk insurance or disaster preparedness.
Kiribati is behind a Pacific call for a moratorium on new coal mines, something both of Australia's major political parties have ruled out.
Mr Tong is less than impressed with their reasoning.
"I keep hearing this argument that it's about the poor," he said, responding to the excuse that coal is necessary to lift people out of energy poverty.
"Well, we are the poor and we will disappear. I don't think it's about the poor, it's about the rich."
Australian Greens senator Larissa Waters, who is in Paris, said there was a "delicious irony" in the government's position.
"Australian coal is the most expensive option," she said. "It's a joke to say that our coal is alleviating poverty."
Mr Tong said Australia's emissions from coal were ultimately owned by the Pacific Islands, which were on the front line of climate change. AAP