Why net zero is a battle for political middle ground
The Liberal and Nationals parties have launched a review of their commitments to reaching net zero emissions by 2050, which shapes as a defining moment for the Coalition and the nation's long-running climate wars.
Both Coalition partners announced, after Labor's thumping federal election win earlier this month, they would throw open debate in their party rooms before finalising their policy offerings.
Net zero is among the most pressing issues, given Coalition leader Sussan Ley has committed to end the nation's climate wars and take the Liberal party back to the 'sensible centre' of the political spectrum in a bid to win back the more than 30 seats it would need to form government again.
Most of Australia's biggest polluters, including the mining, energy and agriculture sectors, are committed to reaching net zero by 2050, in line with Australia's commitment to the Paris Agreement on climate change.
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But four prominent Coalition MPs have called the commitment into question. Nationals Barnaby Joyce, Matt Canavan and Colin Boyce are campaigning for the Coalition to ditch net zero and to instead pursue greater use of fossil fuels in a bid to lower the cost of energy. Liberal Andrew Hastie has called for a debate on net zero.
Why is net zero important?
The goal is a centrepiece of the Paris Agreement, agreed to by 195 countries. It aims to restrict global warming to 1.5 degrees over pre-industrial levels and limit the worst impacts of climate change.
It was enshrined as a legally binding treaty at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21) in Paris in 2015. It has been official Australian government policy ever since, through Coalition and Labor governments.
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