One of the world’s most criticised polluters, Australia, has promised it will achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
PM Scott Morrison made the long-delayed pledge after bargaining with resistant MPs within his government.
He said Australia had a plan to lower emissions, but it would not include ending its massive fossil fuel sectors.
The nation will also not set ambitious targets for 2030 – an objective of next month’s COP26 global climate summit.
“We won’t be lectured by others who do not understand Australia. The Australian Way is all about how you do it, and not if you do it. It’s about getting it done,” Mr Morrison wrote in a newspaper column on Tuesday.
To halt the worst effects of climate change, nations have pledged to limit rising temperatures to 1.5C by 2050.
This requires cutting emissions by 45% by 2030 and reaching net zero by 2050, scientists say. Over 100 nations have committed to carbon neutrality.
Australia has long dragged its heels on climate action, putting it increasingly at odds with strategic allies including the US and UK.
It is one of the dirtiest countries per head of population and a leading global supplier of coal and gas.
What has Australia promised?
Mr Morrison said more than A$20bn (£11bn; $15bn) would be invested in “low-emissions technologies” in the next 20 years.
These include efforts to capture carbon in soil, lower solar energy costs, and develop greener industries.
But Australia will also use more gas, at least in the short term. Most controversially, there is no plan to limit fossil fuels.
“We want our heavy industries, like mining, to stay open, remain competitive and adapt, so they remain viable for as long as global demand allows,” Mr Morrison wrote.
He said this would help sustain rural communities – a key requirement of some government MPs in committing to net zero.
Australia’s 2030 commitment will remain a 26% cut on 2005 emissions. It is currently on track for a 30-35% reduction, the government said.
Details ‘a joke’
The 2050 pledge has been widely welcomed. But the government has been ferociously criticised for not offering more.
Australia’s Climate Council think tank said it was “a joke without strong emissions cuts this decade”.
IMAGE SOURCE, ABC NEWS“Australia desperately needs to dramatically scale up renewable energy, phase out coal & gas and electrify our transport systems,” said chief executive Amanda McKenzie.
Many said the government has been too slow on climate action, despite seeing first-hand impacts such as bushfires, flood and drought.
The plan had “all the strength of a wet paper bag”, said Joe Fontaine, a fire ecology expert at Murdoch University.
“The word plan doesn’t constitute a plan no matter how many times you say it,” said Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese.
What is net zero?
It means not adding to the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
It is achieved by a combination of cutting emissions as much as possible – mainly by reducing gases like carbon dioxide (CO2), which are released in the use of fossil fuels – and so-called offsetting measures, such as planting trees and carbon-capture technology.
The COP26 global climate summit in Glasgow in November is seen as crucial if climate change is to be brought under control. Almost 200 countries are being asked for their plans to cut emissions, and it could lead to major changes to our everyday lives.
