Warning To Morrison From His Own Coalition: Don't Even Think About Implementing A "Net-Zero" Policy
The resources minister, Keith Pitt, has fired a warning shot at Scott Morrison, declaring he cannot adopt a policy of net zero emissions by 2050 without the backing of the Nationals. Morrison has been trying to telegraph a pivot on climate policy since the election of Joe Biden as the US president, signalling Australia wants to achieve net zero as soon as possible and “preferably” by 2050.
The British prime minister, Boris Johnson, wants Australia to unveil more ambitious commitments before the UN’s climate change summit in Glasgow in November, and he maximised Morrison’s comments in London this week by saying Australia had already “declared for net zero”. Morrison is facing pressure from metropolitan Liberals to make the mid-century commitment, as well as sustained pressure from his global peers to do more to reduce emissions sooner.
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But a number of National party figures have been signalling for months they are not on board with Morrison’s climate change shift. Pitt’s clear public warning shot on Thursday, in the wake of the G7 commitments and Johnson’s quip in London, is significant because the Queensland National is a member of the cabinet.
The resources minister said Australia’s climate policy – currently devoid of an official mid-century commitment – had not changed. “We have not committed to net zero by 2050,” Pitt told the ABC. “That would require the agreement of the Nationals and that agreement has not been reached or sought.” Asked for his own view, Pitt said: “It is all about the cost and who is paying.”
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https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/jun/17/nationals-will-oppose-net-zero-emissions-target-resources-minister-signals