Prime Minister Scott Morrison will arrive in Glasgow with a firm 2050 net zero emissions commitment, but he says he won’t support a “mandate” to shut down any resources or agricultural industries to reach the target.
The final shape of the nation’s climate policy has been hammered out after protracted negotiations with junior Coalition partner the Nationals, and will be unveiled on Tuesday.
While the mid-century target has been locked in, it’s not expected there will be any change to the 2030 plan, which will disappoint world leaders hoping for Australia to make a more ambitious short-term commitment at the United Nations summit.
SBS News understands the review of the 2050 policy will be conducted every five years by the Productivity Commission. It will be focused on how rural and regional communities are faring.
The first review will be undertaken in two years time. The policy will also include continued investment in hydrogen and low-cost solar.
In an opinion piece for The Daily Telegraph, Mr Morrison said Australia would not be “lectured” by other countries about how to reach climate targets.
“We will not support any mandate – domestic or international – to force closure of our resources or agricultural industries,” he wrote.
The Australian newspaper is also reporting the Nationals have secured a guarantee that the government won’t pursue a methane target, like the United States.
The junior Coalition party argued against that move, arguing it would have severely affected livestock farmers and natural gas extraction.
Anna Henderson is SBS News' chief political correspondent.
