The Nationals have flatly rejected an increased emissions reduction target for 2030 but with tens of billions of dollars for regional Australia on the table, they are considering backing a commitment to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

With Scott Morrison scheduled to attend the Glasgow climate change leaders’ summit in a fortnight, a meeting of the 21 federal Nationals MPs and senators on Sunday failed to endorse the government’s plan to commit to net zero by 2050 using technological advances.