Australia Infighting Puts Net-Zero Pledge at Risk Before COP26
Deadline looms for Morrison ahead of crucial climate summit
From left, Australian child environmentalists, Laura Kirwin, Izzy Raj-Seppings, Ava Princi and Liv Heaton outside the Federal Court of Australia in Sydney..
Photographer: James Gourley/AAPIMAGEWith COP26 just days away and an election looming, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s ruling Liberal-National coalition is still sparring over what climate policy he’ll take to the crucial talks in Glasgow.
Junior coalition member the Nationals party, which prides itself on backing rural Australians and has supported the fossil-fuel industry for years, is resisting Morrison’s push to commit to net-zero emissions by 2050. While the prime minister is a longtime coal supporter and his conservative government is popular in mining communities, he’s betting that tougher action to combat climate change is now necessary for his political survival.