Australia needs to do what’s needed to make us a winner, not a loser, in a net zero world

Australia can do really well out of the world’s shift to clean energy. For too long the climate debate has been dominated by ideology and extremism, writes Ben English.

As the rest of the world heads towards net zero, the stakes for Australia couldn’t be higher.

Wherever you stand in the climate debate, there is no escaping this fact: A growing consensus is creating its own momentum that is transforming politics, business, trade and finance.

As with Covid, we cannot expect that massive changes happening around the world won’t eventually hit our shores.

But here’s the good news: Australia can do really well out of the world’s shift to clean energy.

For too long the climate debate has been dominated by ideology and extremism.

It has been used as a political weapon, wielded by power players and vested interests and people looking to make a buck.

Now it is time to take a clear-eyed and hard-headed look at why we need to get to net zero by 2050 and what we need to do to get there.

And we need to start from this fundamental position: No worker should be left behind and no family should be left worse off.

The Daily Telegraph Editor Ben English.

The trouble with climate politics in Australia is that nobody has ever put together a plan with the sheet metal worker in Seven Hills or the coal miner in Cessnock in mind.

To this end we have assembled an unprecedented coalition of business, unions, workers and some of the world’s best minds to examine how Australia can emerge at the head of

the pack.

Our series will show that it’s possible for Australia to move into this new global economy in an even stronger position, with more jobs, more money in our pockets, and a stronger

economy.

That’s good news for all of us, whether you are worried about climate change or simply worried about next week.

Our role is not to crusade, nor evangelise. We are not activists. We seek through our journalism to inform you on everything that matters to you about climate. Australia

must do what is necessary to make us a winner, not a loser, in a net zero world.

This is the conversation Australia needs to have.

Our series will showcase this momentous contest of ideas – and we have all the contestants participating.

We call this series Mission Zero but we know that for many of you there is everything at stake.

For more on this series go to: www.missionzero2050.com.au

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