The Nationals want to dump net zero. Why that’s harder than it looks
Critics of Australia’s net zero target say it is an expensive handbrake on the country’s prosperity. But abandoning the target would not be cost free either.
There has undoubtedly been a global vibe shift on climate policy, leading countries and companies to dump emissions reduction targets. Bethany Rae
When former prime minister Scott Morrison signed the Coalition up to a policy target of net zero carbon emissions in 2021, he was keen to emphasise its economic implications.
“This change is happening with or without us,” he said at the time. “Our task is to have an economic plan to ensure Australia, and particularly, our regions and rural areas, can succeed in this new global shift.”
