Prime Minister Scott Morrison has ended weeks of speculation by finally confirming he will attend the United Nations climate conference in Glasgow next month.
Mr Morrison had left it open whether he would attend the important meeting, which is expected to affirm international commitments to net zero emissions by 2050 and, potentially, set new targets for emissions reduction.
'Overnight I confirmed my attendance at the Glasgow Summit which I'm looking forward to attending,' Mr Morrison told reporters at Kirribilli House on Friday.
'It is an important event. The Government will be finalising its position to take to the summit.
Scott Morrison has finally confirmed he will travel to Glasgow for the climate summit beginning on October 31
Mr Morrison has been in extended discussions in recent weeks with colleagues and coalition partners, the National Party, about Australia's policy on net zero emissions by 2050 and the stance the nation should take at the Glasgow conference.
The announcement will be a relief to the Royal Family, with both the Queen and Prince Charles recently expressing exasperation over world leaders' lack of commitment to the event.
The Queen was said to be 'irritated' by world leaders who had not indicated they would attend the upcoming summit.
The 95-year-old monarch's comments on the topic were picked up while she was attending the opening of the Welsh parliament in Cardiff.
'Extraordinary isn't it... I've been hearing all about Cop... still don't know who is coming... no idea,' Her Majesty said.
'We only know about people who are not coming... It's really irritating when they talk, but they don't do.'
Mr Morrison said he was focused on the 'how' of Australia meeting its 2050 Paris Agreement commitments, rather than the 'if and 'when.'
'I am very focused about on the how because the global changes that are happening in our economy as a result of the response to climate change have a real impact and they will have a real impact here in Australia,' he said.
'It is not just about hitting net zero. That is an important environmental goal.
'What is important is that Australia's economy goes from strength to strength.
The Queen made a rare public intervention on the climate change crisis yesterday, saying she is 'irritated' by people who 'talk but don't do'
The 95-year-old monarch was speaking to the Duchess of Cornwall and Elin Jones, the parliament's presiding officer, when her remarks were picked up on the event's live stream
Among those still not confirmed to attend the UN's Cop26 conference, which starts on October 31, are Chinese president Xi Jinping (left), and Russian leader Vladimir Putin (right)
Indian prime minister Narendra Modi (left) and Brazil's Jair Bolsonaro (right) have also not committed to being in Glasgow for the event
Prince Charles, Prince William and the Queen are all set to attend the conference, which starts on October 31 in the Scottish city.
The Queen, who was using a walking stick in public for the second time this week, expressed the remarks emphatically and gesticulated with her gloved hand.
Miss Jones replied: 'Exactly. It's a time for doing... and watching your grandson [Prince William] on the television this morning saying there's no point going to space, we need to save the Earth.'
The Queen smiled proudly and said: 'Yes, I read about it.'
The remarks were a rare public insight into the politically neutral – and tight-lipped – monarch's personal views on an issue of global importance.
She attended the Welsh parliament alongside Camilla and the Prince of Wales, a committed environmentalist who made similar remarks this week.
The Queen did famously say she hoped 'people will think very carefully about the future' ahead of the Scottish independence referendum in 2014, which was viewed by many as a direct attempt to influence the vote.
Among those still not confirmed to attend the UN's Cop26 conference are Mr Morrison, Chinese president Xi Jinping, and Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Indian prime minister Narendra Modi and Brazil's Jair Bolsonaro have also not committed to being in Glasgow for the event.
Earlier this week Prince Charles told the BBC he was shocked the Australian Prime Minister may not be in attendance.
'Scott Morrison, the Australian PM, isn't even certain that he could make it to the meeting in Glasgow,' the BBC reporter said during the interview.
'I, is that what he says does he? Mmm,' Charles responded. The Prince then said he is encouraging world leaders to attend the conference.
'The point being that this is a last chance saloon. If we don't really take the decisions that are vital now, it's going to be almost impossible to catch up.
'It will be a disaster. I mean it will be catastrophic. It is already beginning to be catastrophic because nothing in nature can survive the stress that is created by these extremes of weather.'
Mr Morrison has been negotiating with cabinet and backbench MPs over a new formal policy of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
The monarch, 95, was joined for the reopening of Senedd by her son the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall at the Welsh Parliament building in Cardiff
US President Joe Biden confirmed only this week that he will attend. America's charge d'affaires to the UK, Philip Reeker, said the summit in Glasgow will be 'a pivotal moment on the road towards a more secure, prosperous and sustainable future for our planet'.
Although the Queen has left environmental campaigning to her late husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, her son Charles, and grandson William, it is an issue she quietly takes a great interest in.
In a speech to the Scottish parliament earlier this month, she said: 'Next month, I will be attending Cop26 events in Glasgow. The eyes of the world will be on the United Kingdom – and Scotland, in
