Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said the party would make sure Australia remains in global climate treaty the Paris Agreement if it returned to Government.
It comes weeks after the Liberals’ coalition partner, the Nationals, also abandoned the policy.
The changes to the Opposition’s policy have no effect on Australian law, unless they win the next federal election (due by 2028).
Net zero
Net zero refers to balancing the amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced and taken out of the atmosphere.
When fossil fuels like coal, gas, and oil are burned, they release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
Australia has legislated to achieve net zero by 2050. The plan involves reducing emissions by transitioning to renewable energy, such as wind and solar.
Nationals
Earlier this month, the Nationals unanimously agreed to stop supporting net zero emissions by 2050.
Nationals leader David Littleproud said he believes the current net zero target is too ambitious and Australia is already doing more than its fair share on a global scale.
Littleproud also said he wants to protect industries like mining, agriculture and manufacturing in the regions, which he argued are being “torn apart” by the Government’s energy policy.
Liberals
Your contribution ensures The Daily Aus can continue doing the work you love.
I want to give $10 monthly to help TDA keep doing the news.
Your details:
On Thursday, the Liberal Party voted to abandon its net zero by 2050 policy.
Ley said the Coalition would drop the 62-70% emissions reductions target by 2030, which the Government committed to in September.
She also announced the party would keep Australia in the Paris Agreement.
The agreement binds countries to limit their emissions to ensure global temperatures don’t rise more than 1.5°C above levels recorded during 1850-1900, after which fossil fuel emissions rapidly increased.
Ley said: “We will have an energy and emissions policy driven by two key objectives. Affordable, reliable power, and responsible emissions reductions.”
Shadow Energy Minister Dan Tehan said the Liberal Party will reduce emissions in five-year blocks and in line with other countries, additionally “throwing all technologies at emissions reduction.”
On Sunday, the Liberals and Nationals will hold a joint meeting. This is where the Coalition as a whole will determine its final position on net zero.
Impact
The current Labor Government is committed to net zero by 2050.
This means the Coalition’s policy won’t immediately affect Australians.
The decision could signal to businesses that the future of Australia’s climate commitments and energy industry will depend on who wins the next election, however.
