Scott Morrison urges Coalition unity on ‘climate, new energy’ plans
Scott Morrison says the Coalition must ‘come together’ to combat climate change.
Scott Morrison says the Coalition must “come together” to combat climate change and embrace a new global energy economy, pledging to protect regional communities in the transition to a net-zero emissions future.
The Prime Minister will meet with Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce this week to finalise the government’s long-term emissions reduction strategy, which is expected to include a more ambitious medium-term target and outline a path to net zero.
Ahead of formal talks between senior Liberals and Nationals, Mr Morrison said “addressing climate change is a challenge that we must do together”.
“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,” he said. “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.
“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 their communities intact, and they can look forward with confidence and they can plan for the future with confidence.”
Negotiations between the Liberals and Nationals are expected to focus on whether to adopt a net-zero emissions commitment by mid-century – in line with Australia’s largest trading partners – and if the nation’s medium-term emissions reduction target of 26 to 28 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030 should be increased.
Improved emissions projections, which the government will release in coming weeks, are expected to show Australia was on track to beat its Paris 2030 target, pushing the existing commitment above 30 per cent.
Senior Coalition sources said the government was leaning towards adopting a detailed net-zero-by-2050 plan – underpinned by low-emissions technologies, increased electric vehicle uptake and international partnerships – rather than a fixed target. Regional transition packages floated by senior Nationals MPs were expected to feature prominently in the government’s emissions reduction strategy.
Mr Morrison remains a 50-50 chance of attending the UN climate change conference in Glasgow next month, as he considers quarantine duration and domestic priorities.
The Australian can reveal Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles on Tuesday will warn his state would not be “partners to inaction” in the transition to net zero. Speaking at a CEDA pathways-to-net-zero event, Mr Miles will say “we will not ignore the calls coming from business and industry to help them create jobs even when others can’t see the opportunity ahead of us”.
“We took the first mover advantage. This year, and especially in the lead-up to the Climate Conference in Glasgow, the world is weighing up which jurisdictions are making the most of the renewable energy opportunity,” Mr Miles will say. “We are not partners to inaction.”
Mr Miles will say the Palaszczuk government, which earlier this year launched a $2bn renewable energy and hydrogen jobs fund to “grab the opportunities that are coming from clean energy”, is positioning Queensland to “secure a greater share of the value chain of growth industries”.
Iron ore magnate Andrew Forrest – who has invested heavily in renewable energy projects across the country including a $1bn hydrogen manufacturing facility in central Queensland – on Monday urged Mr Morrison to attend the COP26 summit.
“The head of our country, with a carbon-neutral date which we can all be proud of, will be immensely welcomed in Glasgow by all other national leaders,” the Fortescue chairman said. “Australia relies on investments and funding from all our own institutions plus overseas, and as institutions begin to withdraw their funding from companies and countries which have no climate targets, it’s going to impact the lifestyle of every single Australian.”
The Nationals held an informal partyroom meeting on Monday, attended by the National Farmers Federation, but formal discussions on a Glasgow package won’t commence until next week.
Deputy leader David Littleproud said there was “overwhelming support … to be pragmatic and understand” the government’s revamped climate change plan before a decision was agreed. “We’ve gained great comfort from what the Prime Minister’s said around the fact regional Australia will be protected. It’s already footed the bill. It’s time to make sure … there are no further impacts on regional Australia in committing to net zero,” he said.
While the Nationals remain divided over a net-zero target by 2050, moderate Liberal MPs continue to back a more ambitious plan, including a stronger 2030 emissions reduction target.
NSW Liberal senator Andrew Bragg on Monday described moves by pro-climate independent MP Zali Steggall to legislate a 60 per cent 2030 target as “political grandstanding”.
“While we all want to get to net zero, the transition must be done in a sensible way, otherwise jobs are at risk. No credible person or institution has suggested a 60 per cent cut by 2030,” he said.
“The Business Council of Australia’s target of 46 to 50 per cent by 2030 lines up with the work done by Professor Alan Finkel.”
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