Australia’s conservative Liberal-National Prime Minister Scott Morrison has vowed the election of Joe Biden to the United States presidency will not change his approach to climate change policies, including setting a net-zero emissions target.
“Australia will always set its policies based on Australia’s national interests and the contributions we’re making in these areas,” Mr Morrison said.
“The United States will make its decisions based on its interests and capabilities and how its economy is structured and we’ll do the same.”
Mr Biden’s campaign platform included rejoining the United Nations sponsored Paris Agreement, setting a target of net-zero emissions by 2050, a carbon-free energy sector by 2035 and spending US$2 trillion over four years on clean energy.
The federal government has refused to commit to a similar net-zero emissions target, despite Mr Morrison describing it as “achievable”.
Mr Morrison said climate policies were not a “one size fits all”.
“Our goal is to achieve that as soon as you can, but we will do it on a basis of a technology roadmap,” he said.
“So, we have the technology to achieve lower emissions in the future.
“You have got to have the plan to get there.”
Earlier this year, the Liberal-National government released its Technology Investment Roadmap, a reshaping of the nation’s approach to reducing carbon emissions, with a focus on backing a select few technologies and supporting heavy industry.
The roadmap will guide $18 billion of government investments towards five priority technologies: hydrogen, carbon capture and storage, soil carbon, storage options and ‘low-carbon’ steel and aluminium production.
The Prime Minister’s comments came on the same day independent MP Zali Steggall introduced a private member’s bill, calling for a “bipartisan approach to climate change” and for the government to adopt the net-zero 2050 target.
As the government holds a majority in the House of Representatives, Ms Steggall’s bill will not be debated or voted on without its support.
“If the Prime Minister is not willing to step up with the coalition government then open it up to a conscience vote,” she said.
“Let MPs represent their electorates because climate change is a moral issue, it’s a question of our ultimate long-term safety and committing to a sensible plan like net-zero by 2050, this is not about party politics, it should be above that.”
Ms Steggall said the bill had the support of all state and territories, including those held by Liberal-Nation governments like New South Wales, which today announced $32 billion renewable energy plan.
Opposition Labor Party leader Anthony Albanese again criticised the government for failing to adopt the 2050 target.
“One of the things I have said consistently is that we will take our policy to the election consistent with net zero emissions by 2050,” he said.
“That’s now consistent with the United States, with Japan, with Korea, with Europe, with the United Kingdom, with New Zealand.
“Australia is now isolated amongst our major trading partners when it comes to those issues.”
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