Liberals to meet in nation’s capital for net-zero fight
Liberal MPs will flock to Canberra as their divided party is ready to abandon its promise to reach net zero emissions by 2050.
The Liberals’ official stance on the climate target will be finalized following midweek meetings in the nation’s capital, with the party set to negotiate a single policy with the National Party in the coming days.
Internal wrangling over the issue has intensified, putting further pressure on Opposition Leader Sussan Ley’s leadership since the Nationals announced their position ahead of their coalition counterparts.
Liberal and moderate Andrew Bragg said on Sunday that he would be open to leaving the shadow cabinet if his party decides to withdraw from the Paris Agreement, the international climate change agreement.
He reaffirmed his support for reducing emissions, saying there could be no “fatwa” with words, referring to net zero.
“I don’t think we’ll ever leave Paris. So we’re a party of government… we’re not people living on the sidelines,” he told ABC’s Insiders.
“Most Australians want us to play our fair part in reducing emissions.”
In accordance with the Paris Agreement signed in 2015, members are required to increase their emission targets every five years and it is not possible to dilute these targets.
Amid speculation that another Liberal might follow suit, moderates are trying to reach a deal that remains within the scope of the Paris Agreement and preserves some form of net zero commitment even if the original 2050 deadline is postponed.
Liberal senator Andrew McLachlan, a self-described environmentalist, said the review process should proceed as normal and his party would soon be in a position to negotiate with the National Party.
The long-awaited review, led by opposition energy spokesman Dan Tehan, will be discussed at a meeting of Liberal politicians on Wednesday.
Mr Tehan said subsidies to keep existing coal-fired power plants operating longer could be proposed and would be discussed at the meeting.
Asked whether the opposition would support financial support for coal power plants, he said it was crucial to work with states to ensure the energy source remained in the mix to reduce energy prices.
Former prime minister Scott Morrison stated that the coalition remains committed to its net zero emissions target in 2021.
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