Coalition divided over Scott Morrison’s zero emissions plan
Senior Nationals risk splitting Coalition over Scott Morrison’s net zero plan as the IEA warns Australia’s emissions goals need to be lifted.
Environment
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Key members of The Nationals are digging their heels in before backing Scott Morrison’s net zero 2050 plan until they are reassured that meeting climate targets will not threaten jobs or the economies of rural and regional areas.
The Nationals will hold a partyroom meeting on Sunday to work out whether the Coalition parties will split or unite over the net zero plan, after continuing negotiations between the Prime Minister and Barnaby Joyce.
According to The Australian, Nationals and conservative Liberals, including frontbenchers Bridget McKenzie, Keith Pitt and David Gillespie, are worried that a net zero pledge going into the Glasgow climate change conference could provoke a voter backlash at the election, especially in the key state of Queensland.
However, if an internal compromise is not reached, Mr Morrison has the power to finalise the net zero emissions strategy as a majority decision of the cabinet.
But the International Energy Agency, which advises governments on energy policy, said Australia’s goal to reduce emissions by 26 to 28 per cent below 2005 levels by the end of the decade needed to be substantially increased to prevent the country from lagging behind in the global climate race.
“I would like to see a significantly stronger commitment from Australia than what we have today,” IEA executive director Fatih Birol told The Australian.
Australia must significantly boost its climate change targets or risk becoming an outcast amongst its developed international trading partners, the IEA warned.
Failure to act would mean “Australia’s economy face the risk of being left behind compared with other countries around the world”, said Mr Birol.
It comes as Mr Morrison is set to take his plan for net zero emissions by 2050 to cabinet on Wednesday.
The government is expected to complete its Glasgow climate package by next week after Nationals MPs meet on Sunday.
Mr Morrison is negotiating with the Nationals over how the government plans to meet a net-zero target by 2050, ahead of the COP26 climate summit.
The Prime Minister had indicated in recent weeks that he was unlikely to make the trip, after several 14-day stints in quarantine for overseas visits.
But News Corp understands Mr Morrison is now more likely to go, in recognition of the importance of the summit to secure a new global emissions reduction agreement.
He has been under pressure from world leaders to attend, including UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who has also pushed him to back net zero by 2050 and set a more ambitious 2030 target.
Prince Charles, when told that Mr Morrison may not attend because of concerns about quarantining, said: “Is that what he says, is it?”
“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,” Princes Charles said.
Mr Morrison will spend this week negotiating Australia’s emissions reductions plan and a commitment to new targets with Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce.
If the Prime Minister makes the trip, he will likely also attend the G20 summit in Rome at the end of this month.
Prince Charles, a lifelong environmentalist who has championed organic gardening and runs one of his cars on white wine and cheese, has urged Mr Morrison and other world leaders to turn talk into action at the upcoming UN climate summit.
Queen Elizabeth II’s eldest son and heir, 72, is due to attend events at the two-week COP26 summit in Glasgow starting on October 31, along with his 95-year-old mother.
In a BBC interview broadcast on Monday, the Prince of Wales was asked specifically about Australia and Mr Morrison during a discussion about climate change and the COP26 conference.
When asked what he would say to a government such as Australia’s that appears hesitant to make emissions reduction commitments needed to stave off devastating climate change, Charles replied: “You gently try to suggest there may be other ways of doing things, in my case.
“Otherwise, you lot accuse me of interfering and meddling, don’t you?”
BBC climate editor Justin Rowlatt told the future king that Mr Morrison is undecided on attending the COP26 conference, and asked why leaders should attend.
“Well, that’s what I’m trying to say all the time, and the point being that this is a last chance saloon, literally,” the Prince responded.
“Because if we don’t really take the decisions that are vital now, it’s going to be almost impossible to catch up.”
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