Australia commits to net zero by 2050 target, but won't legislate goal

Australia will target net zero carbon emissions by 2050, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Tuesday, but it will not legislate the goal and instead rely on consumers and companies driving emission reductions.

The adoption of the target will ease international criticism of Australia which had earlier refused to join countries such as Britain and the United States in pledging zero emmissions by 2050 ahead of the United Nations COP26 climate conference in Glasgow from October 31 to November 12.

Morrison said Australia, one of the world's largest emitters of greenhouse gases on a per capita basis and a major exporter of fossil fuels such as coal, will achieve its net zero targets largely through technology development, with government investment totalling A$20 billion ($14.9 billion).

This investment, Morrison said, will reduce the costs of technology such as clean hydrogen, which will increase their use.

Morrison, who faces an expected close election by May 2022, sought to downplay any threat on domestic industries and jobs as a result of reducing emmissions.

"Australians want action on climate change. They're taking action on climate change, but they also want to protect their jobs and their livelihoods. They also want to keep the costs of living down," Morrison told reporters in Canberra.

"I also want to protect the Australian way of life, especially in rural and regional areas. The Australian way of life is unique."

While Australia will introduce a 2050 target, Morrison said Canberra will not strengthen its 2030 target of reducing emissions by 26-28% from 2005 levels.

However, Australia will surpass that target, reducing emissions by 2030 by between 30-35%, he said.

Morrison struggled to gain backing for the net zero targets from his coalition government's junior partner, the National Party, which has a regional power base reliant on agriculture and mining, and has long opposed climate policies.

However, the party said on Sunday it would support a net zero target. The Australian Financial Review reported the deal included an agreement for increase spending on regional infrastructure and tax benefits for income derived from carbon farming.

The deal will aid Morrison's political position in regional areas that have historically been critical of economic restrictions to curb carbon output.

A widely watched poll on Monday showed Morrison is on course to lose to the centre-left Labor party.