Scott Morrison pledges ‘practical’ emission cuts as Anthony Albanese attacks

Scott Morrison had told G20 leaders he will seek ‘practical pathways’ to cutting emissions.

Scott Morrison takes part in the G20 Riyadh summit. Picture Adam Taylor

Scott Morrison has told G20 leaders he will seek “practical pathways” to cutting emissions, as US president-elect Joe Biden prepares a more aggressive climate change stance.

Labor accused the Prime Minister on Monday of being left behind by the international community for not backing a net-zero carbon emissions target by 2050, which Mr Biden has committed the US to achieving.

The G20 leaders’ declaration backed tackling climate emissions post-pandemic and taking a stronger approach to conserving oceans, coral reefs and forests.

Mr Morrison – who has focused heavily on ocean preservation and combating waste – backed the declaration and said his government’s emissions approach would be technology-led.

“Australia is committed to practical pathways to reduce our emissions,” he told the G20 on Sunday. “This includes … further unlocking low-emissions technologies – like hydrogen, carbon capture and storage, green steel and aluminium. These can make massive inroads into reducing our emissions, not just here in Australia … but globally as well.”

Outgoing US President Donald Trump also used the G20 side event to defend his decision to pull the US out of the Paris climate agreement, which Mr Biden has promised to rejoin in the first few days of his presidency.

Other G20 nations with a 2050 net-zero emissions target include Britain, France, Germany, South Korea and Japan.

“Preventing environmental degradation, conserving, sustainably using and restoring biodiversity, preserving our oceans, promoting clean air and clean water, responding to natural disasters and extreme weather events, and tackling climate change are among the most pressing challenges of our time,” the G20 declaration states. “As we recover from the pandemic, we are committed to safeguarding our planet and building a more environmentally sustainable and inclusive future for all people.”

Anthony Albanese has tied himself and Labor to Mr Biden’s climate policies since the Democrat’s election win, arguing that Mr Morrison’s reluctance to commit to an emissions time frame would soon be out of step with the rest of the world.

The Opposition Leader said on Monday that Mr Morrison should commit to a 2050 target before the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow next November. “Australia has been left behind and that’s the real tragedy here. Good action on climate change will create jobs, will lower emissions and lower energy prices,” he said in Melbourne.

“And when the world gathers, not just at Glasgow but … gathered … by Joe Biden once he assumes the presidency, then what we’ll see is more advance on the world stage in 2021.”