PM issues rally cry for nation to address climate change “together”

The PM emerged from quarantine to issue a rallying cry for the nation to come together and face the challenge of climate change.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison departs the Lodge in Canberra, after being in quarantine after his trip to the US. Picture: Gary Ramage / NCA NewsWire

Scott Morrison has issued a rallying cry for the nation to address the challenge of climate change “together”, saying reducing emissions is now a question of “how, not if”.

Ahead of critical talks with Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce to hash out a net-zero by 2050 deal, the Prime Minister said there were “big opportunities” for regional and rural Australia.

“Addressing climate change is a challenge that we must do together. As Prime Minister, it is my job to bring people together on dealing with this big change. The world is moving into a new energy economy. We all know that,” Mr Morrison said on Monday morning.

“It is now a question of how, not if. And how is how we can ensure that those communities right across rural and regional Australia can look at this change and understand that there are big opportunities and there is a way through.”

With the COP26 – the UN Climate Change Conference – summit in Glasgow at the end of the month, Mr Morrison is working towards a deal which will ensure regional and rural Australians don’t bear the brunt of the transition to a clean energy future.

“My government is committed to ensuring that rural and regional Australia transitions to this new energy economy in the future stronger, with their jobs and communities intact and they can look forward with confidence and plan for the future with confidence,” he said.

“We’ve got to come together on this issue. My government will come together on this issue. The country will come together on issue and we will tackle the challenges, just like we have tackled those challenges before this.”

While senior members of his government have come out in favour of transitioning, the Nationals party room is split.

As revealed in The Australian on Monday, The Nationals are pushing for clean energy investments to be spent in the regions and new powers to “pause” climate change action if rural communities display signs of suffering economic hardship.

Victorian National MPs like Darren Chester and Michael McCormack are reportedly in favour of a net-zero target, but Queensland senator Matt Canavan has declared there is nothing which will sway him in favour of a deal.