Australia’s Morrison cut a climate deal ahead of COP26 but this fossil fuel giant’s path to net zero isn’t going to be smooth
- Australia is the world’s largest exporter of iron ore and coking coal, with its resources sector supporting more than 260,000 jobs
- Polls show most Australians back climate action, but many regional communities fear the impact a transition from fossil fuels would have on their way of life
Australia’s journey to the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow was so rocky that until recently, there were question marks over whether Prime Minister Scott Morrison would even attend.
Morrison’s compromise of pledging to sign on to net zero emissions by 2050 was itself a tough sell at home, requiring him to overcome the fierce resistance of rural MPs in his coalition government.
In exchange for the support of Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce’s National Party, Resources Minister Keith Pitt from the Nationals is set to be elevated to cabinet.
The net zero target will not be enshrined into law and the government will achieve it largely through increasing the use of low-emissions technologies, including clean hydrogen.
Reactions elsewhere were muted. COP26 President Alok Sharma said in a tweet he hoped “Australia will build on this by submitting a more ambitious 2030” target at the summit.
