Prime Minister Scott Morrison says Australia may be able to beat a target of net zero by 2050,depending on technology development.Credit:James Alcock.
Mr Morrison addressed 40 world leaders at UN President Joe Biden’s virtual climate summit on Thursday night and said Australia would focus on developing low emissions technology. But the potential for it to reduce emissions would determine not just how ambitious Australia’s net zero deadline would be,but if there was a deadline at all,he said.
“I indicated last night that we were reviewing those (net zero deadlines) all the time. We’re going through that process and when we have more to say about that,we will,” he said.
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“When we’re in a position to do that,that’s (Glasgow) where we will make them.”
However,Mr Morrison used his speech on Thursday to argue that Australia would only set a more ambitious target if it could guarantee the economic outcome.
“For Australia,it is not a question of if or even by when for net zero,but importantly how,” he said.
“Our goal is to get there as soon as we possibly can,through technology that enables and transforms our industries,not taxes that eliminate them and the jobs and livelihoods they support and create,especially in our regions.”