Coalition Abandons Net Zero 2050 Target, Vows Slower Emissions Path
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Australia’s Liberal-National coalition has abandoned its commitment to achieving net zero emissions by 2050, instead pledging to reduce greenhouse gas output at a pace aligned with other developed nations rather than pursuing what leaders called an economically damaging race ahead of global standards, a fundamental shift that threatens to reshape the nation’s climate policy ahead of the next election.
Nationals leader David Littleproud, the Member for Maranoa in Queensland who serves as Shadow Minister for Agriculture, confirmed the policy reversal Monday during a Sky News AM Agenda interview, defending the decision as a pragmatic alternative to the Albanese government’s climate agenda.
“We’re saying that we’ll continue to reduce emissions. We’ll keep pace for the rest of the world,” Littleproud said, emphasizing Australia’s status as responsible for 1.1% of global emissions. “Net zero has become about trying to achieve the impossible rather than doing what’s sensible.”
The coalition’s new position marks a dramatic departure from the net zero commitment adopted under former Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s government and represents the culmination of a six-month internal negotiation between the Liberal and National parties following their 2022 election defeat.
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Under the revised policy framework, the coalition would maintain Australia’s participation in the Paris Agreement while rejecting specific domestic net zero targets, arguing that 128 countries have not yet submitted their 2035 emissions reduction targets and that global momentum toward aggressive climate action has stalled.
Littleproud characterized Labor’s climate strategy as an expensive ideological pursuit that threatens household budgets and industrial competitiveness. He cited Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s unfulfilled 2022 campaign promise of $275 annual energy bill reductions, noting that costs have instead increased by more than $800 since that election.
“Why wouldn’t we do it in a cheaper, better, fairer way?” Littleproud said. “That’s all we’ve said.”
The Nationals leader positioned the policy shift as responsive to changing global conditions rather than abandonment of climate action entirely. He noted that OECD nations are projected to reduce emissions by 1.7% annually through 2035, while Labor’s policies would require Australia to achieve 4.8% annual reductions.
“Labor wants Australia to reduce emissions by 4.8% every year when we are 1.1% of global emissions,” Littleproud said. “We cannot mitigate all the global emissions for the rest of the world. We should do our fair share, keep pace, not be a laggard, but we shouldn’t streak ahead.”
The coalition’s climate repositioning comes amid broader concerns about energy affordability and grid reliability. Littleproud referenced industrial facilities in Tomago, Port Pirie, and Wyalla, as well as emerging artificial intelligence and data center requirements, arguing that baseload power generation remains essential for economic competitiveness.
He also linked climate policy to agricultural land use, claiming that 7.2 million hectares of farmland have been repurposed for renewable energy infrastructure, with another 5.1 million hectares at risk under current trajectory.
“That’s your food security. That’s your food prices going up,” Littleproud said, adding that energy costs for food processing further compound household expenses.
When pressed on the apparent contradiction between abandoning net zero targets while maintaining Paris Agreement commitments, Littleproud argued that Paris represents an aspirational framework without punitive enforcement mechanisms.
“There is no punitive penalty for not meeting Paris,” he said. “If there was, Australia will be in breach because we won’t meet 2030 target.”
The policy announcement follows a week of internal Liberal Party deliberations that generated significant media coverage and public speculation about coalition unity. Littleproud characterized that period as a necessary process to develop comprehensive policy alternatives rather than simply opposing government initiatives.
“We didn’t take the populist route and just say no and try to ride a short-term political wave,” he said. “What we did was we worked calmly through a methodical process.”
The Nationals leader suggested the coalition would complement emissions reduction efforts with increased investment in climate adaptation measures including levy banks and water storage infrastructure.
“Let’s take a deep breath, let’s have a conversation with the Australian people about a cheaper, better, fairer way to live up to a better climate and energy policy in this country,” Littleproud said.
The policy shift arrives as Opposition Leader Sussan Ley, the Member for Farrer in New South Wales, faces declining approval ratings and internal party speculation about her leadership tenure. Recent polling shows Ley’s approval at 30% compared to 40% for Albanese.
Environmental organizations and climate advocacy groups are expected to condemn the coalition’s retreat from net zero commitments as scientifically irresponsible and economically shortsighted, while industry groups dependent on energy-intensive operations may welcome the policy flexibility.
The coalition’s climate position will likely become a central battleground in the next federal election campaign, with Labor expected to portray the policy as abandonment of Australia’s international climate obligations and the coalition framing it as protection against economically damaging overreach.
International reaction remains uncertain, particularly from Pacific Island nations vulnerable to sea level rise and from major trading partners including the European Union and United States, both of which have established ambitious climate targets and carbon border adjustment mechanisms.
The policy announcement also raises questions about Australia’s competitive position in emerging clean energy manufacturing and critical minerals processing sectors, where international investment increasingly flows toward jurisdictions with credible decarbonization pathways.
Littleproud emphasized that the coalition’s approach would allow Australia to maintain environmental progress without economic self-harm, describing the position as responsive to lived experience rather than ideological commitments.
“Australians are feeling this pain,” he said, referencing rising energy costs affecting households from Parramatta to Cunnamulla. “That’s why I think every Australian, no matter where they live, are feeling this pain.”
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